Sequence and efficacy of game complexes in high-level women’s volleyball: A novel perspective through Social Network Analysis

Abstract

The stereotyped sequence of volleyball actions allows organising them into six game complexes (K), each with specific dynamics. The purpose of this study was to verify the game flow in high-level women's volleyball through the sequencing of game complexes, their relative importance within the game and their relationship to attack efficacy. Seven matches of the Women's Brazil Cup’2020, knockout competition played by the 8 best teams of the 2019/2020 Superliga, were analysed (31 sets, 1268 rallies). The matches were obtained through the online video platform www.youtube.com . Pearson's chi-squared test (χ2) with Monte Carlo correction was used to assess the association between the variables, and Social Network Analysis with Eigenvector Centrality for the understanding of the nodes interactions their relative importance in a global context. The highest frequencies occurred for K0 (28.75%), KI (25.54%), and KII (23.39%), followed by KIII (15.60%), KV (3.73%), and KIV (2.99%). Positive associations occurred between KI and error; K0 and first KIV and continuity; and between KI, KII, first KIII, second KIII, first KV or second KV and point. The highest Eigenvector Centrality values occurred in first KVE1 and first KIVE1, and the lowest in K0E0, K0E2 and seventh KIIIE0. The results showed that the game complexes unfold in sequences with different frequencies; the sequences K0E1-KIE2, K0E1-KIE1-KIIE2; K0E1-KIE0 and K0E1-KIE1-KIIE1-KIII(1)E2 are the most frequent, which is informative for approximating the regularities of the training sessions to those of the matches.

Statistical match reports of the 2022 volleyball World Championship in the context of network analysis with Gephi

“…This is particularly relevant in volleyball, where the dynamics and tactics of the game can vary significantly from one match to another. The findings of Laporta et al's research [13] suggest that volleyball matches exhibit a certain structure, and players' actions can be systematized. This underscores the potential of network analysis in deciphering complex game moments and selecting optimal strategies.…”

“…The authors emphasize the creation and utilization of novel methods aimed at optimizing interaction and leadership within volleyball squads. In research by Laporta et al [13], analysis covered seven matches from the 2020 Brazilian Women's Cup playoffs. They discerned a recurring sequence of volleyball maneuvers, classifying them into six distinct gameplay complexes.…”

Inter e intra-variability of the best ranked teams: A network analysis in male high-level volleyball

“…Social Network Analysis was used to analyze the connection and specificity [ 13 ] in Complex I, considering the direct and indirect connections between nodes through the Eigenvector Centrality [ 10 , 53 ]. The present study purposes were: (a) to analyze at a macro-level the important variables for the construction of the KI of the eight best ranked teams that participated in the 2018 Volleyball World Championship through a single and global competition network, and (b) perform micro-analysis considering the peculiarities (differences and similarities) in the offensive construction in KI that distinguish the multiple performance models of the teams participating in the competition.…”

“…In volleyball, the game context can be analyzed from interconnected game actions and influenced by subsequent actions [8][9][10]. Game Complexes (K) are composed of game actions, and are essentially characterized by Complex I (KI) consisting of serve-reception, setting and attack, while Complex II (KII) is constituted by the serve, blocking, defense, setting and counterattack [11][12][13]. Analyzing the game from the Game Complexes perspective becomes important when considering the actions behavior in each phase, being in-system or in ideal conditions for offensive construction, or off-system with limited conditions for offensive construction [14,15].…”

Setting Decision Making in male high- level volleyball: a study from ecological theory and social network analysis perspective

“…In this bias, Social Network Analysis has contributed to the understanding of sports performance based on ecological theory and the DM process (Laporta et al, 2019;Wäsche et al, 2017). Specifically, in volleyball, the Social Networks Analysis seeks to: a) understand the interactions and characteristics between the game actions in each game complex (Laporta et al, 2018b;Laporta et al, 2022); b) analyze the attack process considering critical game scenarios after the 16 th point of the set (Martins et al, 2021), and; c) understand the relationship between the tactical-technical aspects in different game contexts (Jorge Rodrigues et al, 2021). In this context, research reveals that side-out (offensive organization from reception and setting) is the most effective for obtaining points of attack (Loureiro et al, 2017;Sotiropoulos et al, 2021) due to the greater control of the ball and better conditions for the distribution of the game (Costa et al, 2017;Costa et al, 2016;Laporta et al, 2019).…”