Thissen-Milder, M., & Mayhew, J. L. (1991). Selection and classification of high school volleyball players from performance tests. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 31, 380-384.

The accuracy of general and specific tests for identifying freshman, junior varsity, and varsity team players as well as discriminating between starters and non-starters was assessed. High school volleyball players (N = 50) were measured during the first week of practice on six general tests (height, weight, percent body fat, agility run, vertical jump, and two flexibility maneuvers) and four specific tests (overhead volley, forearm pass, wall spike, and self bump/set test).

Varsity players were significantly better than Junior varsity and freshman players in vertical jump, agility, and all specific tests. The combination of the specific tests correctly predicted 68% of players to their appropriate team. Starters were discriminated from non-starters only on the four skill-specific tests.

Implication. Volleyball is a skill-specific activity. Superior players (starters) perform better on sport-specific skill tests than do lesser (non-starters) players. Meaningful tests of performance capacity will involve skills rather than general physical tests.

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