TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL GAME ANALYSIS OF ELITE FEMALE BEACH VOLLEYBALL

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• Writer(s): Häyrinen, Mikko; Tampouratzis, Kostas;
• Publisher: Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport KIHU
• Published: 2012
• Page count: 45
• Type: Applied research reports
• Research method: Experimental
• Keywords: beach volleyball, match analysis, female, winning
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-952-5676-59-4
• Belong to collections: Kihun julkaisusarja
• Written in cooperation with these organizations: Finnish Volleyball Association
• Abstract: The purpose of this study was to make an update on the technical and tactical game analysis of top-level female beach volleyball to set a reliable view of game. Another goal was to analyse different technical skills as possible determinants on winning in international top-level female beach volleyball. A temporal analysis concerning the duration of the rallies, breaks and sets was made. For the technical and tactical analysis 1174 rallies from 31 sets and 16 different matches played in World Tour 2010 and 2011 and European Championships 2011 between world top female beach volleyball teams were analysed. All ball contacts were analysed using a coding system developed for this study using Data Volley 3.4.8 -match analysis software. The rally duration in female elite beach volleyball was 6.9 seconds, the real playing time in one set 4 min 26 s, the duration of a set 18 min 10 s and the duration of a break 24 s. 61 % of the points were scored by attacking, 24 % from the opponent’s errors, 9 % by serving and 5 % by blocking. 39 % of the points were scored in break point situation and 61 % in side out situation. The start of the set proved to be very important, because 87 % of the sets were won by the teams which were ahead at the technical time-out. Attacking was the most used skill followed closely by setting and serving. Blocking was the least used skill; still a lot of blocking attempts without ball contact were made. The attacks were divided equally to spikes and shots whereas majority of the attacks were executed in side out situation. Jump float serve was the most used serving technique and so the most used reception type was jump float receiving. Jump float and float serves were found to be as effective and jump serve the least effective serve technique. Especially the error percentage in jump serving was high. The efficiency of spikes in side out attack situations was little lower than shots. In counter attack situations the efficiency of shots was higher. The success percentage in side out attack situation was higher than in counter attack situation and error percentage little higher, respectively. More block touches were achieved after opponent’s spike attacks when compared to shot attacks and also more kill blocks were similarly achieved after spike attacks. The digs were performed almost as often after opponent’s spike and shot attacks, but the players were more successful in defending opponent’s shot attacks than spike attacks. The set winners were clearly better in side out attacking and blocking and also in counter attacking, receiving and serving. In side out attacking the winners and losers were especially differentiated by succeeding in spiking. In blocking the winners were clearly better in blocking against spikes. In conclusion it can be said that the loading of a female beach volleyball match has decreased slightly. The results suggest that attacking and blocking were the most decisive skills concerning winning a set in top-level female beach volleyball. Especially the side out attacking considered being a very important skill.