Field-based tests for assessing motor abilities in young volleyball players: normative values and age group differences

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to establish age and sex-specific normative values for strength, power, agility and flexibility assessed by field-based tests in young volleyball players aged 10–18 years who were actively training and competing in volleyball, and to examine differences across age groups. The sample consisted of 3,337 boys and girls aged 10 to 18 years. All participants were actively involved in volleyball. The following field-based tests were applied: Standing Long Jump (SLJ), Standing Medicine Overhead Throw (SMOT), Modified X Test (X test), Sit and Reach (SR), and Shoulder Stick Test (SST). To establish normative values for field-based tests assessing motor abilities in young volleyball players and to determine age group differences, basic descriptive statistics (Mean, SD), along with one-way MANOVA and ANOVA, were used. Significant differences were observed across all implemented motor ability tests in both males and females (ANOVA: F = 106.9, p < 0.001, η² = 0.353, on average), except for the SST test in females. Overall, performance in strength, power, and agility tests improved with increasing age, whereas flexibility showed smaller or more stable age-related changes, particularly in girls. These results reflect the interplay between biological maturation, volleyball-specific demands and training exposure. The normative data provided may offer useful reference values for contextualizing physical development in youth volleyball within long-term athlete development frameworks.