A Comprehensive Mapping of High-Level Men’s Volleyball Gameplay through Social Network Analysis: Analysing Serve, Side-Out, Side-Out Transition and Transition

Abstract

A deeper understanding of the factors behind performance and their interactions is essential to promote better training practices. Notwithstanding, the focus often relies on the outcomes of players' actions (e.g., effi cacy rates), whereas the nature and variations of particular classes of actions remain largely unexplored. Our purpose was to conduct a systemic analysis of categorical game variables and their interactions using Social Network Analysis. Game actions were counted as nodes and their interactions as edges. Eigenvector centrality values were calculated for each node. Eight matches of the Men's World Cup 2015 were analysed, composing a total of 27 sets (1,209 rallies). Four game complexes were considered: Complex 0 (Serve), Complex I (Side-out), Complex II (Side-out transition) and Complex III (Transition). Results showed that teams frequently play in-system when in Complex I (i.e. under ideal conditions), but present reduced variation with regard to attack zones and tempos, whereas in Complex II teams most often play out-of-system. Based on these fi ndings, it was concluded that practicing with non-ideal conditions is paramount for good performance in Complex II. Furthermore, most literature combines Complex II and Complex III as a single unit (counter-attack); however, our results reinforce the notion that these two game complexes differ and should be analysed separately.

Comparative Study of Anthropometric Measurement and Body Composition between Junior Soccer and Volleyball Players from the Serbian National League

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“…Top-level volleyball players do not have VO2max values on a high level as typical endurance trained elite players in other sports do, but they have an optimum level of aerobic capacity that is required for playing this game since it may sometimes continue for a long time (Lidor & Ziv, 2010). Th is game also includes a large number of spiking, jumping, power hitting, blocking, and setting that is mainly based on a high level of strength and power (Loureiro et al, 2017).…”

A importância de diferenciar o KII do KIII no Voleibol feminino de alto nível

“…Especificamente, a Centralidade de Autovetor evidencia os nós mais influentes na rede, através das suas ligações diretas e indiretas, calculando uma centralidade ponderada (4) . (9,11,12) . (2) ).…”

Comparison and Assessment of the Setting Zone Choices by Elite Male and Female Volleyball Setters in Relation to the Quality of Defence

“…In the current literature most studies focus on the above-mentioned complexes as being a single unit. However, they should be distinguished because they are different and each one of them should have been analyzed independently (Loureiro et al, 2017). In KII, the ball does not reach the setter in the best conditions (Loureiro et al, 2017;Costa, Afonso, Brant, & Mesquita, 2012).…”