The purpose of this experiment was to see the effect of yoga training on improvement of selected skills of elite volleyball players.

A parallel group pre-post-test design was implemented to conduct the experiment. Both experimental (yoga; n1=30) and control (n2=30) subjects, aged 16 to 18 years, were assessed with four volleyball-skills (viz., forearm pass, spike, service and block) at the base line (pretest) and after completion eight weeks of yoga training intervention (posttest). Yoga intervention for ½ hr. a day followed by ½ hr. game practice was imparted in the evening at 5:00 p.m., excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for a total period of 8 weeks under the overall supervision of a yoga expert; whereas the control group was involved in extracurricular activities for same duration followed by the game practice.

The results revealed that experimental (yoga) group had significant superiority over the control group in front pass (t=5.98, df=58, p<0.001); back pass (t=4.78, df=58, p<0.001); service (t=6.3, df=58, p<0.001); spiking (t=6.04, df=58, p<0.001) and blocking ability (t=7.54, df=58, p<0.001).

Thus, the experiment concludes that the training of yoga practices for a period of eight weeks is effective in improving skills needed to achieve success in competitive volleyball.