The focus of this literature review was to examine the available research relating to vertical jump ability of elite volleyball players, and to compare this with available data on other elite team sport athletes. The later part of the review will discuss some possible reasons for variations in vertical jump ability exhibited by athletes from different training backgrounds. Available literature supports the idea that different jumping styles and techniques exhibited between various sporting activities require very different strength properties and motor pattern development, for optimum performance (16,24,25,29,32). Throughout the literature there was strong evidence for the importance of the role of the arm swing(16), torso extension and head movements in V.J. performance, as well as the role of leg power in maximum extension(5,16,32). Other factors affecting V.J. ability which were identified in the literature include the % of fast twitch muscle fibres (19,21,23,31), and high alactic power production capacity(11,26), motor unit activation and synchronisation and specificity of the movement pattern (23,26). Upper body and torso strength has also been identified as a factor which affects vertical jump ability(5,8,26,32) Exposure to high level explosive jump training was also identified as a factor which affected the athletes ability to make efficient use of the elastic and contractile energy available in a S.S.C. type contraction as seen typically in volleyball jump performance and in standing vertical jump performance.(26) Athletes exposed to a greater volume of jumping and jump training should increase V.J. performance at a faster rate than athletes in non jump related sports.