Relationship between the use of commit-block and the numbers of blockers and block effectiveness

Influence of jump height on the game efficiency in elite volleyball players

The aim of the study was to verify the impact of the jump height measured during the serve, attack and block on their effectiveness. The analysis of the literature and observations lead to the hypothesis that despite the similarities in men's and women's volleyball, the nature of the way of playing between women and men differs. The observation covered 39 male and 24 female elite volleyball players. We used a proprietary software tool, namely OpenCV to assess the jump height library. The analysis was performed on the jump serve height (SJH), attack jump height (AJH), and block jump height (BJH). The following analysis was performed to confirm the differences in the height of the jump and partially confirm the hypothesis. The main difference between men's and women's volleyball is how the serve, attack and block jump height affect winning or losing match sets. In male volleyball players, there is a decrease in the parameters of SJH, AJH and BJH in subsequent sets of matches, while in female volleyball players this relationship is reversed. For men, it seems reasonable to strive to increase the height of a jump to maximize effective offensive actions, as well as to maintain the developed performance throughout a match. In women's volleyball, it is worth using such training measures that allow players would achieve their maximum jumping abilities from the first set, and the main training goal should be focused on the technique and tactics of the whole team.

A Time-Motion Analysis of the Cross-Over Step Block Technique in Volleyball: Non-Linear and Asymmetric Performances

Blocking performance in volleyball is strongly affected by the time in which the action is executed. This study analyzes the time-motion variables in terms of the player’s role and movement direction (right or left), in different phases of the displacement and jump actions in the cross-over step block technique. A kinematic analysis was conducted with 10 senior male volleyball players. Two series of five repetitions were each recorded and classified in terms of middle-blockers (block in the center and sides of the net) and wing-players (only block in the sides). The results showed that the middle-blockers were significantly slower than the wing-players in the first (0.75 ± 0.24 vs. 0.66 ± 0.19 sec; p = 0.020; ES = −0.37 ± 0.30) and fourth phases (0.33 ± 0.8 vs. 0.29 ± 0.8 sec; p = 0.001; ES = −0.44 ± 0.31), and in the total time for blocking (3.15 ± 0.6 vs. 3 ± 0.58 sec; p = 0.003; ES = −0.23 ± 0.31). Overall, players were significantly faster when moving to the right side, showing performance asymmetries. The fastest phases were also performed just before the jump. These findings provide specific knowledge about the cross-over step block technique in its different phases and displacement direction. This information can be used to improve the movement time in the first defensive action in volleyball.

Characteristics of Serve, Reception and Set That Determine the Setting Efficacy in Men's Volleyball

The aim of this investigation was to establish the criteria of service, reception and set that determine setting efficacy in world-class top-level volleyball. The study sample consisted of 4.113 gaming actions (1.371 serve actions, 1.371 reception actions, and 1.371 set actions), corresponding to the observation of four matches for each of the 12 best ranked teams in the Volleyball World Championship - a total of 23 matches. The criteria were: in-game role of the server, serve zone, type of serve, striking technique and serve direction; receiver player, reception zone, and reception efficacy; setting zone, type of set, setting technique, setting efficacy, a set’s area, and set tempo. Multinomial logistic regression showed that criteria related to reception (reception efficacy) and to set (setting zone, type of set, a set’s area, and set tempo) determined set efficacy. Specifically, positive and negative receptions and settings from acceptable and non-acceptable zones reduced perfect setting. In contrast, the jump set toward zones three and six and the first and second tempo increased perfect setting. Serve criteria did not determine set efficacy. This study can guide trainers and players in the training process.

Effect of Skill Level on Allocation of Visual Attention in Volleyball Blocking

Dynamic motor skills such as volleyball blocking rely on efficient perception–action coupling and are influenced by individual, environmental, and task constraints. However, limited research studies have assessed the effect of an individual constraint such as blocking skill on visual attention during an in-situ volleyball blocking task. Therefore, this study used a cross-sectional, observational design to investigate the gaze behavior of 18 male volleyball players (25.6 ± 4.9 years), of two different levels of blocking skill determined a priori according to success during an on-court blocking task. When compared to relatively unsuccessful players (RUS), the gaze of relatively successful players (RS) was observed to fixate more often (RUS: 0.7 ± 0.7 n, RS: 1.3 ± 0.3 n) and dwell for longer (Total; RUS: 12.2 ± 18.4%, RS: 48.0 ± 37.2%, Phase 4; RUS: 6.6 ± 8.8%, RS: 16.9 ± 12.4%) on the opposition spiker, demonstrating that important perceptual information about an opposing team’s attack lies within the behavior of the opposition spiker. More successful blockers were also observed to be taller (RUS: 181.8 ± 6.6 cm, RS: 192.6 ± 3.9 cm), longer in arm-span (RUS: 185.7 ± 5.6 cm, RS: 195.2 ± 5.6 cm), and heavier (RUS: 78.6 ± 11.4 kg, RS: 90.5 ± 8.5 kg). These results can consequently be used to develop a profile of the visual attention and physical attributes of successful blockers for use in developing talented players.

Tapping the Full Potential? Jumping Performance of Volleyball Athletes in Game-Like Situations

Background: One key issue in elite interactive team sports is the simultaneous execution of motor actions (e.g., dribbling a ball) and perceptual-cognitive tasks (e.g., visually scanning the environment for action choices). In volleyball, one typical situation is to prepare and execute maximal block jumps after multiple-options decision-making and concurrent visual tracking of the ongoing game dynamics to find an optimal blocking location. Based on resource-related dual- and multi-tasking theories simultaneous execution of visual-cognitive and motor tasks may interfere with each other. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether volleyball-specific perceptual-cognitive demands (i.e., divided attention, decision making) affect blocking performance (i.e., jumping performance and length of the first step after the ready-block-position) compared to relatively isolated jumping performance.

Methods: Twenty-two elite volleyball players (1st – 3rd German league) performed block jumps in front of a net construction in a single-task condition (ST) and in two perceptual (-cognitive) dual-task conditions including a dual-task low (DT_L; presenting a picture of an opponent attack on a screen) and a dual-task high condition (DT_H; presenting videos of an offensive volleyball set play with a two-alternative choice).

Results: The results of repeated-measures ANOVAs showed a significant effect of conditions on jumping performance [F(2,42) = 33.64, p < 0.001, η_p² = 0.62] and on the length of the first step after the ready-block-position [F(2,42) = 7.90, p = 0.001, η_p² = 0.27). Post hoc comparisons showed that jumping performance in DT_H (p < 0.001) and DT_L (p < 0.001) was significantly lower than in ST. Also, length of the first step after the ready-block-position in DT_H (p = 0.005) and DT_L (p = 0.028) was significantly shorter than in ST.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that blocking performance (i.e., jumping height, length of the first step) decreases in elite volleyball players when a perceptual (-cognitive) load is added. Based on the theory of Wickens (2002), this suggests a resource overlap between visual-processing demands for motor performance and for tracking the dynamics of the game. Interference with the consequence of dual-task related performance costs can therefore also be found in elite athletes in their specific motor expert domain.

Discriminatory Power of Game-Related Statistics in 14–15 Year Age Group Male Volleyball, According to Set

This study compared volleyball game-related statistics by outcome (winners and losers of sets) and set number (total, initial, and last) to identify characteristics that discriminated game performance. Game-related statistics from 314 sets (44 matches) played by teams of male 14- to 15-year-olds in a regional volleyball championship were analysed (2011). Differences between contexts (winning or losing teams) and “set number” (total, initial, and last) were assessed. A discriminant analysis was then performed according to outcome (winners and losers of sets) and “set number” (total, initial, and last). The results showed differences (winning or losing sets) in several variables of Complexes I (attack point and error reception) and II (serve and aces). Game-related statistics which discriminate performance in the sets index the serve, positive reception, and attack point. The predictors of performance at these ages when players are still learning could help coaches plan their training.

Attack Efficacy in Volleyball: Elite Male Teams

The goal was to identify performance indicators predicting attack efficacy in volleyball's game phase denominated Complex II, i.e., the counter-attack. 28 games from the 2007 Men's World Cup were analyzed. Attack efficacy was predicted by three primary variables: Attack tempo, Attack type, and Number of blockers. Power attack and Attack tempo 1 increased the probability of an Attack point. The supremacy of Attack tempo 3 and the high frequency of Two blockers and Three blockers reflected the difficulty of efficient attack during Complex II. Despite unfavourable conditions, attackers managed to execute Power attacks in the majority of the situations, and score a high frequency of Attack points.