Monitoring readiness in Italian amateur female volleyball players: combined use of the Countermovement Jump Test and Subjective Wellness Questionnaires.

BACKGROUND

Amateur female volleyball players face substantial physical and psychological demands despite limited access to professional monitoring tools. Practical, low-cost strategies to assess readiness and recovery are needed. This study investigated whether combining the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Test with psychometric questionnaires could effectively monitor neuromuscular and psychophysical status within a weekly microcycle.

METHODS

In this 12-week observational cohort study, twenty-one Italian amateur female volleyball players (mean age: 23.0±2.8 years) were monitored. CMJ performance was assessed on three key training days within the weekly microcycle (GD+2, GD-3, and GD-1) using the Chronojump Bosco-System. Subjective wellness variables, including sleep quality, recovery, readiness, perceived exertion (RPE), session-RPE, and menstrual-related soreness, were collected via questionnaires across the microcycle, including game day (GD).

RESULTS

CMJ performance improved significantly from GD+2 and GD-3 to GD-1 (P<0.001), reflecting enhanced neuromuscular readiness leading into match day. Readiness scores were higher on GD compared to GD+2 (P<0.001). Among subjective variables, menstrual soreness was significantly and negatively associated with CMJ output (P=0.05), suggesting its relevance in performance monitoring. Sleep and recovery scores did not vary significantly across days, while session RPE showed moderate variation.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining CMJ testing with brief psychometric questionnaires offers a feasible and informative strategy for monitoring readiness in amateur female volleyball. While CMJ alone cannot fully explain performance variability, its integration with subjective wellness indicators provides a more comprehensive view of recovery status. This approach supports individualized training adjustments and is particularly valuable in settings with limited access to advanced technologies.