Effects of the game process on perception of “streaks” in volleyball games

Abstract

 The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the game process on perception of “streaks” in volleyball games. The study was conducted using video experiments and a questionnaire. The study subjects were 121 university volleyball players, who watched a video of a volleyball game and were asked in the questionnaire to estimate the degree of “streaks” at the end of every rally. They rated the degree of “streaks” on an 11-point Likert scale ranging from −5=extremely poor, to 0=even, to +5= extremely good. The subjects were split into 2 groups, one of which watched VTR-A and the other VTR-B. In addition, the group that watched VTR-A was separated according to the time spent watching. One group watched all of the VTR (called VTR-A-1), and the other group watched an A team 11 vs a B team 11 (VTR-A-2, the score being indicated as A11-11B hereafter). ANOVA was used to test the likelihood that the group watched VTR-B (VTR-B-1, VTR-B-2) from A11-11B to the end of the game with the aim of revealing differences between every rally in detail. T-test was used to reveal differences between the effects of the game process. The results indicated that the VTR-A group was strongly influenced by the game process, whereas the VTR-B was affected only slightly.
 In giving advice for volleyball practice, our findings suggest that if players perceive they are in a bad situation, adoption of a positive way of thinking may improve the game situation.