Background/Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify the genotype and phenotype parameters in youth boys volleyball as a fundamental factor towards talent selection in elite performance. A battery of physical tests was adopted to identify and analyze the phenotypic parameters (Haiachi, 2007) and maturity stages for pubic hair (Malina, 2009) to underline optimal genotypic parameters in youth volleyball.
Method The subjects were 80 athletes competing at the Brazilian Youth Boys Championship, special division. Anthropometric, biographical data as well as physical tests were collected following the Biometric protocol (Malina, 2009).
Analysis/Results Distribution of maturation stage pubic hair (PHS) occurs with PHS3 40%, PHS4 40% e PHS5 20%. Athletes PHS3 belonging to the results presented in the most significant of all observed variables: anthropometry (age= 17 years old, body mass= 76, 6 ± 8.94 kg, height= 187.6 ± 8.24 cm); somatotype (endomorphy= 2.9 ± 1.17; mesomorphy= 2.9 ± 0.97, ectomorph= 3.8 ± 0.97, characterized as balanced ectomorph) test speed= 7.9 s; agility test= 8.9 sec; test coordination= 6.0 executions; test force states upper= 4.57 ± 0.59 m; lower strength test= 55.9 ± 6.84 cm.
Conclusions Those results are relevant, considering that these athletes are still undergoing maturation are continuing. A discussion on the identification, selection and use of the sporting talent must be re-visited. When establishing parameters for understanding motor performance of young athletes, coaches must observe growth and maturational changes as indicators to predict talent selection, detection and retention.