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  4. Vol 7, Issue 1, 2026

National elite volleyball player selections policies in China and The United States

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DOI: 10.23977/jhms.2026.070109 | Downloads: 1 | Views: 28

Author(s)

Ziyi Wang 1

Affiliation(s)

1 Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing, 210000, China

Corresponding Author

Ziyi Wang

ABSTRACT

This study comparatively examines elite volleyball player selection policies in China and the United States, exploring their similarities, differences and the institutional drivers behind such variations. Adopting a qualitative research approach, it conducts semi-structured interviews with six retired elite players and two senior coaches from both countries and applies thematic analysis to code and interpret the collected narrative data. The findings indicate that both nations prioritize physical fitness and technical skills as core selection criteria, but present distinct talent pathway structures. China operates a government-led dual-track system under the whole-nation system with strict age thresholds, while the US relies predominantly on collegiate athletic leagues with academic performance requirements and lacks a well-established domestic professional league. Respondents from both sides respectively appeal for pathway integration and domestic league construction, offering empirical insights for optimizing elite volleyball talent cultivation systems.

KEYWORDS

Volleyball; Sport Policy; Sport Education; Elite Sport; Elite Athletes

CITE THIS PAPER

Ziyi Wang. National elite volleyball player selections policies in China and The United States. Journal of Human Movement Science (2026) Vol. 7, No. 1, 63-73. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jhms.2026.070109.

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