Do Warm-Up Strategies Impact the Jumping Performance of Young Female Volleyball Players?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2026.1.20

Keywords:

jump, volleyball, PAPE, neuromuscular integrative exercise, plyometric

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess whether a warm-up routine incorporating plyometric exercises promotes greater improvements in jumping performance, power output, and neuromuscular responsiveness compared with warm-up strategies commonly used in volleyball practice.

Materials and Methods. Twenty-four sub-elite female volleyball players (age: 16.3 ± 0.6 years; body mass: 58.7 ± 3.8 kg; height: 165.6 ± 6.8 cm) from a regional club performed three different warm-up protocols, each lasting 20 minutes: traditional warm-up (TWU), neuromuscular warm-up (NWU), and isometric warm-up (IWU). To minimize fatigue effects, three experimental sessions were conducted with 48-hour intervals. Following each warm-up protocol, participants were randomly assessed using the Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Standing Long Jump (SLJ), Squat Jump–Block Jump (SJ–BJ), Repeated Countermovement Jump (RCMJ), and Drop Jump (DJ) tests.

Results. Jump performance outcomes demonstrated significantly higher values (p < 0.001) following the NWU protocol. Compared with IWU, TWU resulted in higher performance values in SLJ, SJ–BJ, RCMJ, and shorter ground contact time during the DJ test.

Conclusions. Neuromuscular warm-up appears to be particularly effective in sports requiring explosive, high-speed actions, as it may directly enhance training quality and jumping performance during competition. The findings indicate that post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) can be observed in Under-17 female volleyball players when appropriate warm-up exercises are applied. This study provides practical insights into warm-up strategies for youth volleyball clubs with limited access to resistance training equipment.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Italo Sannicandro, University of Foggia

Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department
Luigi Pinto Street, Foggia, Italy
italo.sannicandro@unifg.it

Luigi Armiento, University of Foggia

Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department
Luigi Pinto Street, Foggia, Italy
luigi.armiento@unifg.it

Nicola Trotta, University of Foggia

Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department
Luigi Pinto Street, Foggia, Italy
nicola.trotta@unifg.it

Rosario D'Onofrio, Italian Football Doctors Association (L.A.M.I.CA.)

Member of the Medical-Scientific Multidisciplinary Commission
Largo Enrico Berlinguer, 18, Formia 04023, Italy
donofrio.rosario@virgilio.it

Kaçurri Arben, Sport University of Tirana

Rr. Muhamet Gjollesha, Tirana, Albania
akacurri@ust.edu.al

Kasa Agron, Sport University of Tirana

Rr. Muhamet Gjollesha, Tirana, Albania
akasa@ust.edu.al

References

Esposito, G., Ceruso, R., Aliberti, S., & Raiola, G. (2024a). Ecological-dynamic approach vs. traditional prescriptive approach in improving technical skills of young soccer players. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9(3), 162. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030162

Altavilla, G., D’Elia, F., D’Isanto, T., & Raiola, G. (2023). Effects of direction change in running with and without the ball and performance level on metabolic demands in young basketball players. European Journal of Human Movement, 51(3). https://doi.org/10.21134/eurjhm.2023.51.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21134/eurjhm.2023.53.3

D’Elia, F. (2023). External loading in football to discriminate the different performance model. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(4), 1050–1055. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2023.04131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2023.04131

Giardullo, G., Di Lascio, G., Ceruso, R., Manzi, V., & Raiola, G. (2025). Relationship between ankle mobility, elastic strength, and rate of force development in the two karate disciplines: Kata and kumite. Sci, 7(4), 151. https://doi.org/10.3390/sci7040151 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sci7040151

Shalom, A., Gottlieb, R., Shalom, I., Gafni, G., Levy, A., & Calleja-Gonzalez, J. (2025). A pilot study exploring the optimization of warm-up strategies: Modern cognitive warm-up with open-skill demands vs. traditional closed-skill warm-up in basketball. Sensors, 25(11), 3279. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113279 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113279

Altavilla, G., Aliberti, S., D’Isanto, T., & Raiola, G. (2022). A comparison between ecological-dynamic and cognitive approach to improve accuracy in basketball shot. Studia Sportiva, 16(1), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.5817/StS2022-1-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5817/StS2022-1-1

Keoliya, A. A., Ramteke, S. U., Boob, M. A., & Somaiya, K. J. (2024). Enhancing volleyball athlete performance: A comprehensive review of training interventions and their impact on agility, explosive power, and strength. Cureus, 16(1), e53273. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53273 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53273

Esposito, G., Altavilla, G., Giardullo, G., Ceruso, R., & D’Isanto, T. (2024b). The effects of the use of plyometric exercises with and without the ball in the development of explosive strength in volleyball. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9(3), 126. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030126 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030126

Deng, N., Soh, K. G., Abdullah, B., Huang, D., Xiao, W., & Liu, H. (2023). Effects of plyometric training on technical skill performance among athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0288340. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288340 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288340

Hernandez-Martinez, J., Guzman-Muñoz, E., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Magnani Branco, B. H., Avila-Valencia, S., Carter-Beltran, L. J., Aravena-Sagardia, P., Méndez-Cornejo, J., & Valdés-Badilla, P. (2023). Effects of different plyometric training frequencies on physical performance in youth male volleyball players: A randomized trial. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1270512. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1270512 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1270512

Pawlik, D., & Mroczek, D. (2022). Fatigue and training load factors in volleyball. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11149. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811149

Keskin, K., Akçay, N., Özmen, T., Contarli, N., Yildiz, K. C., Sofuoğlu, C., Kamiş, O., Rolnick, N., De Queiros, V. S., & Montoye, A. (2024). Effects of different pre-exercise strategies on jumping performance in female volleyball players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 65(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.24.16196-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.24.16196-8

Villalon-Gasch, L., Penichet-Tomas, A., Sebastia-Amat, S., Pueo, B., & Jimenez-Olmedo, J. M. (2022). Postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) increases vertical jump in elite female volleyball players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 462. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010462 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010462

Petisco, C., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Hernández, D., Gonzalo-Skok, O., Nakamura, F. Y., & Sanchez-Sanchez, J. (2019). Post-activation potentiation: Effects of different conditioning intensities on measures of physical fitness in male young professional soccer players. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1167. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01167 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01167

Seitz, L. B., & Haff, G. G. (2016). Factors modulating post-activation potentiation of jump, sprint, throw, and upper-body ballistic performances: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 46(2), 231–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0415-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0415-7

Pérez-Gómez, J., Adsuar, J. C., Alcaraz, P. E., & Carlos-Vivas, J. (2022). Physical exercises for preventing injuries among adult male football players: A systematic review. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 11(1), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2020.11.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2020.11.003

Papagiannis, G., Karatrantou, K., Batatolis, C., Ioakimidis, P., & Gerodimos, V. (2024). Individuality affects the efficiency of basketball pre-game warm-up on players’ performance. Sports, 12(12), 353. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12120353 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12120353

Foqha, B. M., Schwesig, R., Ltifi, M. A., Bartels, T., Hermassi, S., & Aouadi, R. (2023). A 10-week FIFA 11+ program improves the short-sprint and modified agility T-test performance in elite seven-a-side soccer players. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1236223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1236223 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1236223

Andrade, D. C., Henriquez-Olguín, C., Beltrán, A. R., Ramírez, M. A., Labarca, C., Cornejo, M., Álvarez, C., & Ramírez-Campillo, R. (2015). Effects of general, specific and combined warm-up on explosive muscular performance. Biology of Sport, 32(2), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1140426 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1140426

Althomali, O. W., Ibrahim, A. A., Algharbi, A. F., Alshammari, S. S., Alajlan, S. N., Albaqawi, J. A., Alshammari, A. F., Sheeha, B. B., & Hussein, H. M. (2025). The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program reduces the incidence of lower extremity injuries in football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 65(1), 117–124. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15910-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15910-5

Emery, C. A., Owoeye, O. B. A., Räisänen, A. M., Befus, K., Hubkarao, T., Palacios-Derflingher, L., & Pasanen, K. (2022). The “SHRed Injuries Basketball” neuromuscular training warm-up program reduces ankle and knee injury rates by 36% in youth basketball. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 52(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2022.10959 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2022.10959

Stojanović, E., Scanlan, A. T., Radovanović, D., Jakovljević, V., & Faude, O. (2023). A multicomponent neuromuscular warm-up program reduces lower-extremity injuries in trained basketball players: A cluster randomized controlled trial. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 51(5), 463–471. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2022.2133978 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2022.2133978

Magaña-Ramírez, M., Gallardo-Gómez, D., Álvarez-Barbosa, F., & Corral-Pernía, J. A. (2024). What exercise programme is the most appropriate to mitigate anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in football (soccer) players? A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 27(4), 234–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.02.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.02.001

Lopes, M., Simões, D., Costa, R., Oliveira, J., & Ribeiro, F. (2020). Effects of the FIFA 11+ on injury prevention in amateur futsal players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(8), 1434–1441. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13677 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13677

Jarosz, J., Gawel, D., Grycmann, P., Aschenbrenner, P., Spieszny, M., Wilk, M., & Krzysztofik, M. (2025). How repeatable is PAPE effect: The impact of in-season isometric squat activation on countermovement jump performance enhancement in national level soccer players. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 115. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01148-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01148-9

Dos Santos Silva, D., Ferreira, A. R. P., Aidar, F. J., Gama de Matos, D., Kalinine, E., Da Silva-Grigoletto, E., & De Souza, R. F. (2021). Post-activation potentiation effect after acute plyometric exercises on the performance of long jumpers. Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 11(3), 494. https://doi.org/10.32098/mltj.03.2021.14 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32098/mltj.03.2021.14

Sun, Q., Wu, M., & Ni, Y. (2025). Additional jump interval training as a form of warm-up on enhancing aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and power in female dancers: A cohort study. Frontiers in Physiology, 16, 1504468. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1504468 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1504468

Isla, E., Romero-Moraleda, B., Moya, J. M., Esparza-Ros, F., & Mallo, J. (2021). Effects of a neuromuscular warm-up program in youth female soccer players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 79, 29–40. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0080

Blazevich, A. J., & Babault, N. (2019). Post-activation potentiation versus post-activation performance enhancement in humans: Historical perspective, underlying mechanisms, and current issues. Frontiers in Physiology, 10, 1359. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01359

Van Den Tillaar, R., Lerberg, E., & Von Heimburg, E. (2019). Comparison of three types of warm-up upon sprint ability in experienced soccer players. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 8(6), 574–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2016.05.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2016.05.006

Falch, H. N., Kristiansen, E. L., Haugen, M. E., & Van Den Tillaar, R. (2021). Association of performance in strength and plyometric tests with change of direction performance in young female team-sport athletes. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 6(4), 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk6040083 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk6040083

Altavilla, G., D’Isanto, T., Raiola, G., & D’Elia, F. (2023). Different explosive strength and physiological demands between male and female basketball teams. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2023.2.16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2023.2.16

Sannicandro, I., Belli, E., & La Torre, A. (2021). Warm up and postactivation potentiation (PAP): A very topical debate. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 61(2), 331–332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11719-5

Ah Sue, R., Adams, K. J., & DeBeliso, M. (2016). Optimal timing for post-activation potentiation in women collegiate volleyball players. Sports, 4(2), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports4020027 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports4020027

Sygulla, K. S., & Fountaine, C. J. (2014). Acute post-activation potentiation in NCAA Division II female athletes. International Journal of Exercise Science, 7(3), 212–219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/ZBEL2600

Dopsaj, M., Ćopić, N., Nešić, G., & Sikimić, M. (2012). Jumping performance in elite female volleyball players relative to playing positions: A practical multidimensional assessment model. Serbian Journal of Sports Sciences, 6(2), 61–69.

Tomczak, M., & Tomczak, E. (2014). The need to report effect size estimates revisited: An overview of some recommended measures of effect size. Trends in Sport Sciences, 21(1), 19–25.

Bertozzi, F., Brunetti, C., Maver, P., Galli, M., & Tarabini, M. (2025). The role of age and maturation on jump performance and postural control in female adolescent volleyball players over a season. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01134-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01134-1

Nikolaidis, P. T., Ziv, G., Arnon, M., & Lidor, R. (2012). Physical characteristics and physiological attributes of female volleyball players—The need for individual data. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(9), 2547–2557. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31823f8c06 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31823f8c06

Deng, B., Yan, R., Sui, X., Lin, G., Ding, S., Li, D., & Sun, J. (2025). Effects of unilateral and bilateral complex-contrast training on lower limb strength and jump performance in collegiate female volleyball players. PLOS ONE, 20(6), e0327237. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327237 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327237

Zhu, M., & Cui, Z. (2024). Chronobiological insights in plyometric jump training: Optimizing sport-performance adaptations for volleyball players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 19(10), 1087–1096. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2024-0160 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2024-0160

Trajković, N., Milić, V., Đurković, T., Rešetar, T., & Korobeynikov, G. (2024). Diurnal variations in upper and lower body power in adolescent volleyball players: Exploring time-of-day effects on performance. Sports, 12(12), 320. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12120320 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12120320

Soslu, R., Özer, Ö., Uysal, A., & Pamuk, Ö. (2022). Deaf and non-deaf basketball and volleyball players’ multi-faceted difference on repeated countermovement jump performances: Height, force and acceleration. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 941629. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.941629 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.941629

Ramirez-Campillo, R., García-Hermoso, A., Moran, J., Chaabene, H., Negra, Y., & Scanlan, A. T. (2022). The effects of plyometric jump training on physical fitness attributes in basketball players: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 11(6), 656–670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2020.12.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2020.12.005

Behrens, M., Mau-Moeller, A., Mueller, K., Heise, S., Gube, M., Beuster, N., Herlyn, P. K. E., Fischer, D.-C., & Bruhn, S. (2016). Plyometric training improves voluntary activation and strength during isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19(2), 170–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2015.01.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2015.01.011

Aquino, M., Petrizzo, J., Otto, R. M., & Wygand, J. (2022). The impact of fatigue on performance and biomechanical variables—A narrative review with prospective methodology. Biomechanics, 2(4), 513–524. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2040040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2040040

Watanabe, S., Aizawa, J., Shimoda, M., Enomoto, M., Nakamura, T., Okawa, A., & Yagishita, K. (2016). Effect of short-term fatigue, induced by high-intensity exercise, on the profile of the ground reaction force during single-leg anterior drop-jumps. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 28(12), 3371–3375. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3371 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3371

Ramirez-Campillo, R., Sortwell, A., Moran, J., Afonso, J., Clemente, F. M., Lloyd, R. S., Oliver, J. L., Pedley, J., & Granacher, U. (2023). Plyometric-jump training effects on physical fitness and sport-specific performance according to maturity: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Medicine – Open, 9(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00568-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00568-6

Wu, H., Li, S., Lai, J., Bian, W., Ramirez-Campillo, R., de Villarreal, E. S., & Zhao, Q. (2025). Children’s sprint and jump performance after plyometric-jump training: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 24(1), 52–74. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.52 DOI: https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.52

Tillaar, R. V. D., Roaas, T. V., & Oranchuk, D. (2020). Comparison of effects of training order of explosive strength and plyometrics training on different physical abilities in adolescent handball players. Biology of Sport, 37(3), 239–246. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2020.95634 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2020.95634

Krzysztofik, M., Spieszny, M., Trybulski, R., Wilk, M., Pisz, A., Kolinger, D., Filip-Stachnik, A., & Stastny, P. (2023). Acute effects of isometric conditioning activity on the viscoelastic properties of muscles and sprint and jumping performance in handball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(7), 1486–1494. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004404 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004404

Helbin, J., Gawel, D., Terbalyan, A., Wilk, M., Krzysztofik, M., Lum, D., & Jarosz, J. (2025). Acute effects of isometric contraction distribution on jump performance in volleyball players. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10(3), 343. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030343 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030343

Downloads

Published

2026-01-30

How to Cite

Sannicandro, I., Armiento, L., Trotta, N., D’Onofrio, R., Arben, K., & Agron, K. (2026). Do Warm-Up Strategies Impact the Jumping Performance of Young Female Volleyball Players?. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 26(1), 206–216. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2026.1.20

Issue

Section

Original Scientific Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)