Predicting Factors of Zone 4 Attack in Volleyball

Abstract

This study examined 142 volleyball games of the Men's Super League 2014/2015 seasons in Brazil from which we analyzed 24-26 games of each participating team, identifying 5,267 Zone 4 attacks for further analysis. Within these Zone 4 attacks, we analyzed the association between the effect of the attack carried out and the separate effects of serve reception, tempo and type of attack. We found that the reception, tempo of attack, second tempo of attack, and power of diagonal attack were predictors of the attack effect in Zone 4. Moreover, placed attacks showed a tendency to not yield a score. In conclusion, winning points in high-level men's volleyball requires excellent receptions, a fast attack tempo and powerfully executed of attacks.

Brazilian high-level men’s volleyball

“…The finding is partially in agreement with literature since it suggests that the predictive factors of the attack point are reception A and B since they allow an organized attack (Costa, et al, 2017(Costa, et al, , 2011. Other predictive factors are the 1 st (Castro, Souza, & Mesquita, 2011;Nikos & Elissavet, 2011) and 2 nd attack tempo (Costa, et al, 2017;Nikos & Elissavet, 2011) and powerful attacks (Castro, et al, 2011;Costa, et al, 2017). In this context, the present study did not find any relation of the reception A with the attack point nor with the 3 rd attack tempo.…”

“…Attack error occurred after reception A (OR:3.432) and B (OR:2.058) as well as after the 2 nd attack tempo (OR: 2.818) and powerful attack in diagonal (OR:1.697) and parallel (OR:1.425). These findings partially corroborate literature since receptions have allowed for the organized attack (Costa, et al, 2017(Costa, et al, , 2011 and powerful attack (Castro, et al, 2011;Costa, et al, 2017), thus predicting the attack point. Moreover, the fact that reception A is considered a predictive factor of the attack point, probably suggests that the setter prefers to play with the opposite player when he is in the front row, making the distribution more predictable.…”

“…Although it has not been found in the studies conducting this type of analysis, it is observed that when the reception allows for all possibilities of the attack, there is a tendency to carry out the distribution in an unpredictable way (Afonso, et al, 2010(Afonso, et al, , 2012. It increases difficulty of the defensive organization and facilitates point scoring (Castro & Mesquita, 2008;Castro, et al, 2011;Costa, et al, 2017), which could justify reception A as a predictive factor of the attack from position 1 and the point of attack. However, it is important to note that in the case of attacking, it is necessary to have as good attack prediction as possible (Costa, et al, 2017(Costa, et al, , 2014.…”

“…It increases difficulty of the defensive organization and facilitates point scoring (Castro & Mesquita, 2008;Castro, et al, 2011;Costa, et al, 2017), which could justify reception A as a predictive factor of the attack from position 1 and the point of attack. However, it is important to note that in the case of attacking, it is necessary to have as good attack prediction as possible (Costa, et al, 2017(Costa, et al, , 2014. On the other hand, the reception that does not allow for the use of all attackers, improves the predictability of distribution, propitiates better structuring of the defensive system and results in a greater attack error (Costa, et al, 2017(Costa, et al, , 2014 regardless of the attacking potency (Costa, et al, 2011), the fact observed in the predictive factors that increases the chances of the attack occurring from position 2.…”

“…A positive effect of the attack on the side out, the context of attack that begins with a reception, is related to victory in a set and in a game (Costa, Ferreira, Junqueira, Afonso, & Mesquita, 2011;Monteiro, Mesquita, & Marcelino, 2009;Paulo, Zaal, Fonseca, & Araujo, 2016;Ugrinowitsch, Fonseca, Carvalho, Profeta & Benda, 2011). The attack has been predicted by reception effects that influence the organized construction of the attack (Barzouka, Nikolaidou, Malousaris, & Bergeles, 2009;Silva, Lacerda, & João, 2014), faster attack tempos Nikos & Elissavet, 2011;Palao, Santos, & Ureña, 2007), known as the 1 st and 2 nd tempo, and powerful performance of the attack (Costa, et al, 2011(Costa, et al, , 2017. In addition, it can be seen that, during offensive structuring, effectiveness of the attack is related to the attacker's availability (Mesquita, Palao, Marcelino, & Afonso, 2013), the number of attackers available, and the relationship between the receiver and the attacker (Afonso, Esteves, Thomas, Araújo, & Mesquita, 2012).…”