Maximal exercise performance and anthropometry in successful university netball players

The aim of this investigation was to examine differences in maximal exercise performance and anthropometry (body mass, stature and whole body density) between positional groups and to identify relationships between maximal exercise performance and anthropometry in 18 university level netball players (mean ± SD: age 20.2 ± 3.0yr, mass = 64.3 ± 8.6kg, stature = 170.3 ± 4.8 cm and whole body density = 1.070 ± 0.002g ml-1). Whole body density was estimated by hydrostatic weighing, and maximal exercise performance was assessed by a 10s Wingate test, a 40m maximal shuttle run test (MSRT), a vertical jump test (VJ) and a 60s vertical jump test. Significant differences were established between positional groups (defence, n = 6; centres, n = 6; attack, n = 6) with respect to absolute maximal instantaneous power (MIP) (VJ (W); (P < 0.05), mass (P < 0.05) and stature (P < 0.05). Significant correlations (n = 18pairs) were identified between mass and absolute peak power output (PPO (W)) (P < 0.01), fatigue index (FI%) (MSRT (P < 0.01) and absolute MIP (P < 0.05). Stature was related to absolute PPO (P < 0.01), FI% (P < 0.01) and absolute MIP (P < 0.05). Density correlated with relative PPO (W kg-1) (P < 0.01) and relative MIP (W kg-1) (P < 0.01). It was concluded that these results reflect the strategic expectations and requirements of the netball players, but since the analyses were made on a small number, caution should be exercised in generalising beyond the data reported