Abstract
After the 2000 Olympic Games, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) modified the scoring system used in beach volleyball from side-out to a rally point system. The goal was to facilitate the comprehension of the game and to stabilize match duration. The purpose of this study was to assess the duration and number of rallies in men’s and women’s beach volleyball matches (2000–2010 FIVB World Tour). Data from 14,432 men’s matches and 14,175 women’s matches of the 2000–2010 World Tour were collected. The variables studied were: match duration, total rallies per set and match, number of sets, team that won the set and match, type of match (equality in score), and gender. The average match duration in beach volleyball is stable, ranging from 30 to 64 minutes, regardless of the number of sets, the stage of the tournament (qualifying round or main draw), or gender. The average number of rallies per match were 78–80 for two-set matches and 94–96 for three-set matches. Matches from the main draw are more balanced than matches from the qualifying round. More balanced matches (smaller point difference between teams) have longer durations. It is not clear why there is no relationship between the number of rallies and match duration. Future studies are needed to clarify this aspect. The results can serve as a reference to guide beach volleyball training (with regard to duration and number of rallies) and to help understand the effect of the rule change.
Highlights
Beach volleyball has much developed in recent years at all levels
From qualifying matches and 68.7 % from the main draw) of the 2000-2010 World Tour organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) were collected
The results show that the change in the scoring system has resulted in an average match duration and number of rallies that are stable regardless of the number of sets, the stage in the tournament, or gender
Summary
Beach volleyball has much developed in recent years at all levels (participation, sponsors, number and level of championships, TV coverage, audience, prize money, etc.). Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) modified the scoring system from side-out to the rally point system. The aim of this change was to simplify the comprehension of the rules for the general public and make the matchesduration more predictable and controllable (Marques et al, 2010; PérezTurpin et al, 2009). This last aspect was in order to adapt it to the demands of TV, as a spectacle sport.A similar change was made by the FIVB two years earlier in indoor volleyball. The reduction in the court size was done to increase continuity in the game
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