Effect of Game-based Training on Selected Physical Fitness Qualities among U-17 Male Volleyball Players in Injibara, Ethiopia

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of game-based training on selected physical fitness qualities among u-17 male volleyball players in Injibara, Ethiopia. Method To achieve the purpose of the study, a true experimental design with a randomized pre-test and post-test control group design was used. However, a simple random sampling technique was used to select forty male subjects and randomly assigned to two equal groups of EG (n = 20) and CG (n = 20). The ages of the subjects ranged from 15 to 17 years. Therefore, EG was exposed to a game-based training program lasting for twelve weeks, on three non-consecutive days per week, i.e., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, each lasting for two hours in the afternoon session. But CG did not perform game-based training other than the usual volleyball training given by the coach. Both groups had taken pre-test and post-test measurements. The two groups were measured by the T-test for agility, the thirty-second jump test for endurance, and the vertical jump test for power. The collected data for this study was analyzed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. In sum, all the statistical tests were calculated using SPSS version 26 software. However, the level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Finally, the test results were interpreted and displayed in tables in connection to physical fitness qualities. Results According to the analyzed data, the results obtained from the EG showed significant changes in agility, endurance, and power but not in the CG. Conclusion Based on the results, it can be concluded that 12-week game-based training has a positive effect on the improvement of selected physical fitness qualities.