LAUSR

The study of the multitude factors that influence the development of the athletes is the subject of extensive scientific research so that the implementation of optimized sport development models can be designed and practiced. As part of a broader research of ours during the past two years, by the process of completing anonymous self-report questionnaires of personal data by the athletes themselves, a database was created by 29 different factors affecting the development of volleyball athletes in Greece and abroad. This paper presents the results of a sample processing 466 people which is comprised exclusively by Greek athletes of A1, A2 and A3 volleyball class and a comparative investigation of the degree of influence of a group of factors is done in their athletic development. Specifically, the influence of the family environment (degree of parental support) is studied, the age of onset, the systematic engagement of the athletes in volleyball during childhood-school age. Finally, their possible involvement with other different sports is investigated during the school year and the degree of impact of this factor in their sport development and career paths. From the statistical sample processing (frequency diagrams) and the multivariate correlation of various factors among the athletes in different categories, it was established that, starting the sport of volleyball at an early age which is associated with intense pace workouts does not show a strong correlation with the expectation of future creation of high-level athletes. While in contrast, the simultaneous engagement of children with other collective sports (mainly basketball and football), and the degree of support of their efforts from parents are very positive factors for their athletic development. Through the results of our study, the view of the generalization of the application of an “early specialization model” of the volleyball athletes is not supported, which as we have seen from the survey, is already underway in A3 category. Instead, a very careful and thorough investigation of all relevant factors should be preceded, which will help in the final selection of the most appropriate development model of volleyball athletes in our country.