Dopsaj Milivoj; Majstorovic Nikola; Milic Radoje; Nesic Goran; Rauter Samo & Zadraznik Marko

This research aimed to create a multidimensional equation for predicting an optimal body composition model for elite-level European male volleyball players. The subject sample consisted of 36 elite volleyball players: national team members from two European countries – Slovenia and Serbia – in the 2017 season. Measurement of body composition was carried out using electrical multichannel bioimpedance (BIA - InBody 720), in which 11 variables were used (body height as a longitudinal one, and the other 10 as a system of body composition indicators). Based on the results of descriptive statistics, we can state that elite European male volleyball players are tall, heavy, and with nutritional status at the level of 198.5±6.5 cm, 92.3±5.9 kg and 23.44±1.44 kg•m-2, respectively. The percentage of body fat in the whole sample was 7.91±3.03 %, and the skeletal muscle mass index averaged 12.49±0.80 kg•m-2. For the evaluation and prediction of an optimal body composition model of elite male volleyball players, a multidimensional score (BC_Score) was defined, based on a simple, but sport-specific and playing position-sensitive model equation based on three dominant body characteristics of elite volleyball players: BH, PBF, and SMMI. In this manner, coaches can have a tool for managing the body composition status of players according to position, in terms of a deterministic, fully controlled system.

KEY WORDS: Bioimpedance; Volleyball; Body composition; Prediction.

DOPSAJ, M.; MAJSTOROVIC, N.; MILIC, R.; NESIC, G.; RAUTER, S. & ZADRAZNIK, M. Multidimensional prediction approach in the assessment of male volleyball players’ optimal body composition: the case of two elite European teams. Int. J. Morphol., 39(4):977-983, 2021.