Using social network analysis to assess play efficacy according to game patterns: a game-centred approach in high-level men’s volleyball

Laporta, Lorenzo; Afonso, José; Valongo, Beatriz; Mesquita, Isabel

doi:10.1080/24748668.2019.1669007

Cited by 29 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Thus far, the most common measure has been degree centrality (e.g., Gama et al, 2014;McLean, Salmon, Gorman, Stevens, & Solomon, 2018), which calculates the number of direct connections between nodes (Borgatti, 2005). However, recent research in volleyball (Laporta, Afonso, and Mesquita, 2018a;2018b;Laporta, Afonso, Valongo, and Mesquita, 2019) has applied Eigenvector Centrality, which considers the value of a node as the weighted sum of both direct and indirect connections (Bonacich, 2007). Moreover, such studies have begun to consider game actions, and not only players, as nodes (e.g., Hurst et al, 2016;Laporta et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Attack in Volleyball from the Perspective of Social Network Analysis: Refining Match Analysis through Interconnectivity and Composite of Variables

Martins¹,

Afonso²,

Coutinho³

et al. 2021

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med.

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This study aimed to develop an instrument for analysing the attack in high-level volleyball considering the refined variables adjacent to the attack action, the interconnection between direct and indirect actions, the impact of the previous action, and the formation of composite variables. The game complexes were approached as interacting subsystems. The primary goal was to understand the influence of game actions adjacent to the attack. Three matches of a National Women’s 1st Division 2018/2019 (nine sets, 415 plays) were analysed, considering all game complexes (except attack coverage due to reduced occurrence). An Eigenvector Centrality network with 420 nodes and 7367 edges was created. The networks showed that ideal setting conditions, and strong attacks by the outside and opposite hitters without having received a perfect ball, were central in side-out. In transition, we highlight ideal setting conditions, preferences of the outside hitter, quick attacks in Z4, and high balls in Z2. This study is distinct because it considers different aspects related to the systemic review of the game by using composite variables and the actions prior to the attack. Of these results, we highlight that players attacked with slower tempos for the double action of receive-attack, and these were either preferably directed to the parallel or explored the block. Moreover, for the double defence-attack actions, attackers sought the soft spike in Z2, Z4, and Z8; and when two consecutive individual errors occurred, the players did not err but instead continued to attack to force the opponent’s error.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Attack in Volleyball from the Perspective of Social Network Analysis: Refining Match Analysis through Interconnectivity and Composite of Variables

Martins¹,

Afonso²,

Coutinho³

et al. 2021

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Performance analysis has provided powerful contributions to the knowledge of game dynamics and useful information for improving training processes ( Garganta, 2009 ; Hughes and Bartlett, 2002 ). Notwithstanding, studies using MA have focused on average models, and our previous studies are not exception ( Hurst et al, 2017 ; Laporta et al, 2018a , 2019 ). These studies are important to understand what leads teams to win matches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Interestingly, the different game patterns did not seem to interfere with attack efficacy. Even though a few studies in volleyball have suggested that game patterns correlate with different efficacy levels in the attack ( Marcelino et al, 2008 ; Mesquita et al, 2013 ; Silva, Marcelino et al, 2016 ), others have shown differently, and have gone as far as suggesting that the individual skill of the attacker may be more relevant for the result of the attack action than the game patterns preceding it ( Afonso and Mesquita, 2011 ; Laporta et al, 2019 ). This may be related to the fact that blockers cannot actively try to steal the ball away from the attackers; instead, they are forced to wait for the attacker to touch the ball, which provides an edge to the attacker.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several interesting studies have applied SNA in different sports ( Clemente et al, 2015 ; Dey et al, 2017 ; Praça et al, 2019 ) and to answer different problems ( Fewell et al, 2012 ; Ribeiro et al, 2019 ; Sasaki et al, 2017 ). In recent years, our research team has applied SNA to high-level volleyball ( Hurst et al, 2016 ; Laporta et al, 2018a , 2018b , 2019 ; Loureiro et al, 2017 ). For example, Hurst et al (2016) and Loureiro et al (2017) analysed the interaction of game actions belonging to side-out, side-out transition and transition (KI, KII and KIII) using eigenvector centrality, while Hurst et al (2017) used similar methodology to analyse attack coverage and freeball (KIV and KV).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This body of research has provided proof of concept of the usefulness of SNA when applied to understand game dynamics in volleyball, as well as delivered relevant information such as the predominance of off-system playing (i.e., most setting and attacking actions occur under non-ideal conditions). Laporta et al (2019) went a step further and attempted to understand if different networks could be associated and would present differences in efficacy levels in the six existing game complexes in high-level men’s volleyball.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Coexistence of Distinct Performance Models in High-Level Women’s Volleyball

Laporta

Medeiros

Vargas

et al. 2021

Journal of Human Kinetics

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In performance analysis, and most notably in match analysis, generalizing game patterns in a sport or competition may result in formulating generic models and neglecting relevant variability in benefit of average or central values. Here, we aimed to understand how different game models can coexist at the same competitive level using social network analysis with degree centrality to obtain systemic mappings for six volleyball matches, one for each of the six national teams playing in the 2014 World Grand Prix Finals, guaranteeing a homogeneous game level and balanced matches. Although the sample was not recent, this was not relevant for our purposes, since we aimed to merely expose a proof of concept. A total of 56 sets and 7,176 ball possessions were analysed through Gephi Software, considering game actions as nodes and the interaction between them as edges. Results supported the coexistence of different performance models at the highest levels of practice, with each of the six teams presenting a very distinct game model. For example, important differences in eigenvector centrality in attack zones (ranging from 0 to 34) and tempos (20 to 38) were found between the six teams, as well as in defensive lines (20 to 39) and block opposition (22 to 37). This further suggests that there may be multiple pathways towards expert performance within any given sport, inviting a re-conceptualization of monolithic talent identification, detection and selection models. Future studies could benefit from standardizing the metrics in function of the number of ball possessions.

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Inter-team variability in high-level women’s volleyball from the perspective of Social Network Analysis: an analysis in critical game scenarios

Martins

Mesquita

Mendes

et al. 2021

International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport

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Using social network analysis to assess play efficacy according to game patterns: a game-centred approach in high-level men’s volleyball

Cited by 29 publications

References 27 publications

The Attack in Volleyball from the Perspective of Social Network Analysis: Refining Match Analysis through Interconnectivity and Composite of Variables

The Attack in Volleyball from the Perspective of Social Network Analysis: Refining Match Analysis through Interconnectivity and Composite of Variables

Coexistence of Distinct Performance Models in High-Level Women’s Volleyball

Inter-team variability in high-level women’s volleyball from the perspective of Social Network Analysis: an analysis in critical game scenarios

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