{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T19:21:12Z","timestamp":1790796072109,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"PeerJ","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757289600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study examined sex differences in anthropometric and physical attributes, and their relationships with volleyball serve accuracy and speed among adolescent volleyball players. Fifty athletes (age: 13.1\u00a0\u00b1\u00a00.4 years; peak height velocity: \u22122.2\u00a0\u00b1\u00a00.3 years) voluntarily participated in this study. Anthropometric attributes, physical performances, and technical performance (<jats:italic>i.e.<\/jats:italic>, serve accuracy and speed) were measured. The result showed that boys were taller, leaner, and had greater leg length than girls (all <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.001). Boys also outperformed girls in change of direction (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.01), vertical jump (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001), upper limb strength (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.005), balance, and serve speed (both <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001). Height, arm length, lower limb length, and hand length were positively correlated with serve accuracy and speed for both boys and girls (range: <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\u00a0=\u00a00.497 to 0.789; all <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.05). Serve accuracy and speed were associated with all physical performance measures (range: <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\u00a0=\u00a00.402 to 0.908; all <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.05), except 10-meter sprint time, which was only significantly correlated with serve speed in girls (<jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\u00a0=\u00a0\u00a0\u2212\u00a00.403; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.05). The main anthropometric factor influencing serve accuracy was height in boys (<jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 0.901; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001) and hand length in girls (<jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 0.650; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001); the opposite was true for serve speed. For physical performance, change of direction, flexibility, and balance were the main factors influencing accuracy in boys (<jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 0.717; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001) and girls (<jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 0.820; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001). Serve speed was influenced by hand grip force, upper limb strength, and balance in boys (<jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 0.770; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001), while hand grip force was the main factor in girls (<jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 0.722; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u00a0&lt;\u00a00.0001). In conclusion, body span and physical abilities, such as balance, flexibility, and strength are essential for volleyball serve accuracy and speed in adolescent players.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.19992","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T08:43:11Z","timestamp":1757320991000},"page":"e19992","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Sex-based influence of morphological and physical attributes on serve performance in adolescent volleyball players"],"prefix":"10.7717","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Rani","family":"Asfour","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, Tunis, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hamza","family":"Marzouki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Tunisia; Research Unit: Sport Sciences, Health and Movement, 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