Impact of Specific Periodization and Foster’s Scale on Technical and Emotional Development of Young Volleyball Athletes (13 - 16 Years Old)

This study examined the impact of a volleyball-specific periodization program monitored with sRPE on adolescent female athletes (13 - 16 years). Across three cohorts (n = 58), internal load increased progressively during preparatory and pre-competitive phases (p < 0.001), soreness peaked predictably, enjoyment and motivation showed modest gains (Δmotivation +8.5%, enjoyment +6.2%), and technical performance improved significantly (serve accuracy +12%, attack efficiency +9%). These findings support sRPE-monitored periodization as a feasible, low-cost method for balancing workload, skill acquisition, and emotional well-being in youth volleyball. A longitudinal descriptive design was applied across three cohorts: 25 athletes in Brazil (2018) and two groups in the United States (2023 and 2025) totaling 33 athletes. Training programs lasted 26 to 30 weeks with two to three sessions per week. Internal load (UA) was calculated using sRPE, monotony and strain were derived, soreness was recorded post-session, and enjoyment and motivation were monitored weekly, while technical indicators included serve accuracy, attack efficiency, and average jumps per set. Analyses used descriptive statistics, correlations, and paired comparisons with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The results showed progressive increases in training load during preparatory and pre-competitive phases followed by tapering in competition, soreness peaks that later stabilized, modest positive trends in enjoyment and motivation with weak correlations to load, and significant improvements in technical performance across all cohorts. These findings indicate that volleyball-specific periodization combined with sRPE is a feasible and low-cost approach that aligns physical workload with technical development while fostering emotional awareness and engagement in adolescent athletes.