A study on slide attacks after reception in volleyball games

Abstract

The objective of this study was to obtain information for future volleyball coaching by analyzing the associations among patterns of slide attacks after reception (serve receiving), results of attacks, and outcomes of matches. The data were collected from 168 sets in a total of 45 matches, consisting of those in the third round of 8-team round-robin 3-match regular rounds and those in the final round participated in by the top 6 teams in regular rounds in the 2015-16 Women’s V Premier League. The following were the main results: 1) The pattern of slide attacks clearly differed between the times when the ball was fed to the setter in their home position by the reception (A pass) and the times when the setter moved to receive the pass (B pass). Attacks from straight behind the setter (SA) were observed more frequently after A passes, and those from positions near the antenna (SC) were observed more frequently after B passes. 2) In slide attacks after receptions, the percentage of hard driven spikes after B passes was higher for the winner than for the looser of the set. 3) The results of slide attacks after receptions, particularly the results of attacks after A passes, were associated with the outcomes of matches. 4) Of the slide attacks after receptions, the results of those from near the antenna (SC) were more closely associated with the outcomes of matches. 5) In slide attacks after receptions, the results of both hard driven spikes and soft attacks were associated, but those of hard driven spikes were more closely associated with the outcomes of the sets.