| The purpose of this study was to compare conditioning levels between off-season and competition season training cycles during a women's collegiate volleyball annual training cycle. For this study 10 Division II collegiate female volleyball players adhered to two separate 13 week periodized strength and conditioning programs. The off-season program consisted of 13 weeks starting in May and ending the beginning of August. The competition season program started the beginning of August and concluded the beginning of November. The frequency for off-season training was 4 times per week which decreased to 3 times per week during the competition season. A battery of field tests was administered to measure muscular strength and endurance, power, agility, and anaerobic capacity. The field tests utilized were the vertical jump test, 1 minute sit-up, T-Test, 300 yard shuttle run, and 1 repetition maximum back squat. Measurements were taken on three separate occasions which included baseline, pre-season, and post-season. The findings of the present study indicate that off-season strength and conditioning levels for anaerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance can be maintained during the competition season when the frequency of training is decreased to three days per week. Therefore, athletes that wish to maintain and in some areas increase conditioning levels, may decrease the frequency to three days per week during the competition season.;KEYWORDS: Periodization, Field Tests, Athlete Profile, Resistance Training, Frequency... |
