EFFECT OF VOLLEYBALL TRAINING ON THE COORDINATION ABILITIES AND FUNCTIONAL FITNESS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The study examined the influence of volleyball training on the development of coordination abilities and functional fitness among university students. The growing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, reduced motor activity, and declining physical preparedness among students necessitates the search for effective forms of physical education. Volleyball, characterized by dynamic movements, rapid motor responses, spatial orientation, and collective interaction, possesses significant potential for improving students’ physical condition.

The research involved 64 university students aged 18-20 years who were randomly assigned to a control group (n=32) and an experimental group (n=32). The control group participated in traditional physical education classes, while the experimental group completed a volleyball-oriented training program for 16 weeks. Assessment procedures included tests of coordination abilities (shuttle run, balance test, reaction speed, movement accuracy) and indicators of functional fitness (heart rate recovery, Ruffier index, vital lung capacity).

The results demonstrated significantly greater improvements in the experimental group compared with the control group. Students participating in volleyball training showed enhanced coordination performance, improved balance stability, faster motor reactions, and more favorable functional indicators of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The findings confirm that systematic volleyball training represents an effective pedagogical tool for improving coordination abilities and functional fitness in university students. The incorporation of volleyball elements into university physical education programs may contribute to increasing the effectiveness of health promotion and motor development among young adults.