Men's Volleyball Research Articles

男子バレーボールにおけるセッターのゲームパフォーマンス向上に関する実践研究：「セッターのパフォーマンス評価基準」を活用して

The aim of this study was to enhance the game performance of player S, the setter for the Ts University men's volleyball team, who was having problems with respect to “using combination attacks purposefully to limit the number of blocks by the opposition”-which is one of the main responsibilities of the setter-by using the “Performance Evaluation Criteria for Setters”. In order to achieve this aim, we analyzed the game performance of player S for the fall season. Based on this analysis, we derived some goals for improvement that were required for combination attack setting.Next, we worked on theoretical issues in player S's game in the light of what we had clarified. This corrected combination attack setting method was then put into practice in the fall season league games. We then examined the game performance of player S in the fall and spring seasons, and compared the results. This analysis showed that, when setting for combination attacks, those in which the hitters do not cross paths and where the setter was in the front row with only two front row hitters had a significantly higher rate of compliance with the evaluation criteria in the fall season than in the spring season. It therefore followed that there was a significant increase in the rate of compliance with the evaluation criteria for all combination attacks. As a result, it can be concluded that this study's aim of improving the game performance of player S with respect to “using combination attacks purposefully to limit the number of blocks by the opposition,” using the “Performance Evaluation Criteria for Setters”, was successful.

Dietary assessment, anthropometric measurements and nutritional status of Greek professional athletes

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the anthropometric characteristics and to assess dietary intakes of professional athletes, of four different sporting teams, in Northern Greece.Design/methodology/approachHeight and weight was measured using stasiometer and a scale devise, respectively. Body fat was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis with multiple frequencies. A five‐day questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intakes of athletes. The sample consisted of male and female athletes, of ten volleyball and 21 basketball players, 20 weightlifters and 31 distance runners.FindingsDistance runners had the lower percentage of body fat and volleyball players the higher ones. In men, basketball players reported the lowest amounts for energy intake (1,900 kcal/day) and for carbohydrates (2 g/kg). In women, the lowest carbohydrate intake was reported in volleyball players. Volleyball men players consumed the highest amount of fat 110 g/day or 1.4 g/kg. Protein intakes were below the recommended values for weightlifters and distance runners for both male and female subjects.Practical implicationsThe study indicated dietary problems that could limit the performance of the Greek athletes and calls for nutrition monitoring and assessment.Originality/valueThe article should be of value to nutritionists, athletes and coaches.

Does Effectiveness of Skill in Complex I Predict Win in Men's Olympic Volleyball Games?

The aim of the present study was to present the playing characteristics of the teams in complex I and to attempt to determine which of these characteristics led to victory and to the final ranking of the teams. The subjects were 38 Olympic Volleyball men's games. In every game, teams were characterized according to the result of the game (win or lose). The games were video-recorded and analyzed with the "Data Volleyball Project Sport Software" program. It recorded every skill of the complex I of the game, for each player of each team. There was a five level scale protocol according to the effectiveness of the skill (Eom & Schutz, 1992; Eom, 1989). Discriminant analysis was conducted to select which subset of the measured variables significantly contributed to the prediction of winning or losing in Olympic Volleyball teams. Among the five variables of service-reception: two variables "best reception, 1st set attack" and "Good reception, high set attack" were entered into the final model yielding, standardized coefficient 1.22 and .78 respectively. Among the five "attack from reception" categories, only one variable, "ace-point" was selected to enter into the final model. These results conclude that the "best" and "good reception" and the "ace-point" in the attack remain powerful aggressive tools for high level teams and were predictors to win.

Does landing technique displayed during volleyball training replicate the demands of competition?

Despite chronic lower extremity syndromes being extremely problematic in volleyball internationally, there is a lack of research pertaining to the demands experienced by volleyball players in terms of landings performed during competition and whether these are replicated during training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in landing mechanics displayed by volleyball players during competition compared to training. Video data (25 Hz) of the Australian Men's volleyball team were collected for three training sessions and two competition matches at the Asian men's Volleyball Championships in 2003. Frequency data for six players were analysed (Chi-square analysis) to determine whether situation (training versus competition) was significantly (p < 0.05) related to a qualitative assessment of knee angle, landing style or movement task. The results revealed that, although players performed a greater number of landings during training (65%) compared to competition (35%) over similar duration, there was no significant relationship between situation and landing style. However, there were significant differences between training and competition when landings were classified according to movement task, landing style and knee angle. Interestingly, players landed with larger knee flexion angles than expected during both training (73% acute, 26% > square, 1% obtuse) and competition (59% acute, 38% square, 2% obtuse), possibly increasing knee joint loading and contributing to overuse syndromes. It was concluded that the effects of variations in landing knee angle on knee loading and the imbalance in landing demands between competition and training require further investigation as the basis of volleyball injury prevention initiatives.

Playing characteristics of men’s Olympic Volleyball teams in complex II

The aim of the present study was to present the playing characteristics of the teams in complex II and to attempt to determine which of these characteristics led to victory and to the final ranking of the teams. The subjects were 38 Olympic Volleyball men’s games. In every game, teams were characterized according to the result of the game (win or lose). The games were video-recorded and analyzed with the “Data Volleyball” program. It recorded every skill of the complex II of the game, for each player of each team. There was a 5 level scale protocol according to the effectiveness of the skill (Eom & Schutz, 1992; Eom, 1989). Discriminant analysis was conducted to select which subset of the measured variables significantly contributed to the prediction of winning or losing in Olympic Volleyball teams. Among the five variables of service: “reception to other court” and “ace” were entered into the final model yielding high loadings, .80 and .79 respectively. Predicting game outcome from the five “counter attacked” variables, resulted in one significant function and “ace” was selected to enter into the final model. None of the three “dig” or the four “block” categories were significantly discriminating game outcome. These results conclude that “ace” in service and in counterattack remain powerful aggressive tools for high level teams and were predictors to win.

Isokinetic performance and shoulder mobility in elite volleyball athletes from the United Kingdom

Objectives—To evaluate the differences in strength and mobility of shoulder rotator muscles in the dominant and non-dominant shoulders of elite volleyball players. Methods—Isokinetic muscle strength tests were performed at speeds...

Match Analysis Based on Rotation Phases in International Men's Volleyball Game

Match Analysis Based on Rotation Phases in International Men's Volleyball Game

Statistical analyses of volleyball team performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the playing characteristics of team performance in international men's volleyball. The specific purposes were (a) to examine differences in playing characteristics (in particular, the set and spike) between the Attack Process and the Counterattack Process; (b) to examine changes in playing characteristics as a function of team success (as indicated by single-game outcomes and by final tournament standings); and (c) to determine the best predictor, or a set of predictors, of team success among the selected skill components. Seventy-two sample games from the Third Federation of International Volleyball Cup men's competition were recorded using a computerized recording system. Results showed that the significant differences between Team Standing and Game Outcome were due to better performances on those skills used in the Counterattack Process. Among the eight selected skills, the block and spike were the most important in determining team success. The methodology used in this study and the subsequent results provide valuable aids for the coach in the evaluation of team performance and ultimately in the preparation of training sessions in volleyball.

バレーボールゲームにおける評価尺度の作成と集団技能の構造 : 大学トップレベルを対象として

The first purpose of the present study was to make out the skill tests in volleyball games and examine the reliabilities and objectivities of the tests. Further, the second purpose was to clarify the structure of the group skills in games. Team performance in volleyball games could be classified into two large categories of performance: 1. the performance to get points: A-1: serving A-2: attacking after reception of attacking from service reception by opponent team A-3: attacking after reception of attacking from reception by opponent team after A-2 2. the performance to get side-outs: B-1: attacking after service reception B-2: attacking after reception of attacking from reception by opponent team after B-1 The volleyball skill tests consisted of six individual skills (Serving, Serve reception, Tossing, Spiking, Blocking and Reception) and attacking performance of opponent team. The observed games were the 1988 Spring League of six Intercollegiate Men's Volleyball in Kansai and the performed skills were rated on 30 games, 128 sets with each team and set. These 11 sets which were randomly selected out of them were rated again to investigate the reliabilities of the tests. To investigate the objectivities of the tests, the 11 sets were further rated by another experienced volleyball player. The reliabilities and objectivities of the tests were estimated by using the method of Cramer's V and rates of contingency. To determine the structure of the games, the number of rallies were counted in games. To further examine the structure of the group skills in volleyball games, the frequency of the appearance of composed skill's patterns of the group skills were calculated and investigated. The major results were as follows: 1) It could be inferred that the volleyball skill tests had relatively high reliabilities and objectivities. 2) As the frequency of rallies in volleyball games were calculated, 81.2% of attacking had been performed by the second rally. 3) The frequency of performance formed by only blocking was significantly greater in A-2. The frequency of attacking performed in liaison with blocking, reception, tossing and spiking was also significant and second greatest in A-2; The attacks of these two skill patterns occupied about 77% in A-2. 4) In A-3, the frequency of attacking performed by only blocking was significantly greater and the frequency of attacking followed spike covering was significantly smaller. 5) 91.7% of attacking from service reception (B-1) was performed in liaison with service reception, tossing and spiking. 6) The frequency of attacking performed by only blocking was significantly higher among the composed skill patterns in B-2.

Cognitive-Affective Stress Management Training with High Performance Youth Volleyball Players: Effects on Affect, Cognition, and Performance

Cognitive-Affective Stress Management Training (SMT) is a coping skills training program designed to help athletes control dysfunctional stress processes (Smith, 1980). The present quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of SMT on affect, cognition, and performance in high performance youth volleyball players. Members of Alberta's Canada Games men's and women's (under 19 years of age) volleyball teams were assigned to either an experimental treatment group or a waiting-list control group. The treatment program consisted of eight modules, approximately 1 week apart, that allowed subjects to learn and apply somatic and cognitive coping skills. The results indicated that the treatment group emitted fewer negative thoughts in response to videotaped stressors and had superior service reception performance in a controlled practice compared to the control group. There were no interpretable differences between groups for either state anxiety (CSAI-2) or trait anxiety (SCAT). The cognitive and performance measures provided converging support for Smith's program. The results are discussed in terms of coping skills training, theoretical issues regarding the measurement of anxiety, and possible affect-cognition system independence.