Investigation of Relationship of Strength and Size of Different Body Parts to Velocity of Volleyball Serve and Spike

I. Introducti0n The modern game of Volleyball puts a great deal of emphasis on the fact that in this game a player is required to play in all the positions during a match due to obligation of the rule concerned with rotation. At one time, a player became a Spiker, the next moment a blocker, attack builder, server, a deep defender and so on. Therefore, a wide variety of techniques have been evolved which have their own and different physical requirements. As a consequence a player is expected to work on a wide ranging programme designed to improve his strength, speed, power, agility, flexibility etc. along with possessing a specific body type, height, limb length, upper body size etc. Once the above qualities and characteristics are ensured that the game of volleyball has its tactics which are either individual or collective in nature. The collective i.e. team tactics are based on the total teams play which necessitates certain combinations of techniques, understanding among the players of the teams, understanding of the opponents play etc. The individual tactics have their roots in the players themselves which needs mastery of the techniques as well as tactical application. There are mainly two techniques which have their tactical utility during the game and which are individual based . These are “the serve” and “the spike”. The service which happens to be an act of putting the ball in play, if executed tactically by the server can foil the opponents. Organization of the attacks and the spike executed tactically can fetch a point or get a rally change during play. But these two techniques have their basis in the strength of certain body parts as well as the size of certain body parts including the player’s total height. Serve has become a weapon of attack and its tactical use is important. Generally speaking it is organized an effective attack. When service is constitutes the other five players in the serving team prepare to defend. Such of this defend will largely depend on the service. If the service succeeds in putting pressure on the opposition, if is likely that they will on easy return, which then allow the serving team to build on effective counter attack. Spike is the finishing touch to the team’s play. It is the shot designed to win the rally for the team. As a result the spiker has the spot light during a game and every players want to be a specialist spiker, unfortunately, the physical requirement for top level spiker are more limiting than for any other role in volleyball. The player must be tall (over 2mts.is usual), and have a good vertical jump, must have sufficient amount of strength and a definite degree of strength of wrist and shoulder It is also felt that to hit the ball during spiking and service with a maximum possible velocity one must have sufficient amount of strength. A definite degree of strength of wrist and shoulder muscle is required for service, and for spiking. There is need to develop the strength of wrist, shoulder, body, thigh and leg muscles. Strength development of the lower extremity of the players increases jumping ability which is basic to spiking. From the bio-mechanical point of view if the arm length is longer, then one will have greater radius of rotation. As we know at the moment of ball is contacted, the greater linear velocity in the direction of the flight of the ball is desired. Greater linear velocity is only possible when the radius of rotation is sufficiently longer. So if the person has longer arm length he can produce greater linear velocity. The top level performance in particular event demands particular type of body size and shape, other aspects being similar. A strong relationship between structure of an athlete and specific task has been found. Clear physical prototypes exist for optimal performance at the level of Olympic Games. So emphasis should be given to find out the relationship between anthropometric measures and the specific task (event) of an athlete for high level of performance. Thus realizing the importance of selected strength and body segments variables to the velocity of the Tennis Service and straight arm spike in volleyball the research scholar undertook the present study.