1

Raúl Hileno, Cristòfol Salas, & Bernat Buscà

2

INTRODUCTION

Attack tempo is the elapsed time between the setting touch and the

attack hit (Fernández, Salas, & Molina, 2009).

Fernández, M., Salas, C., & Molina, J. J. (2009). Technical and tactical variations in the blocking of zero attacks considering contextual

variables: the influence of the scoreboard in volleyball. Kronos, 8(14), 71–78.

3

INTRODUCTION

Attack tempo is one of the main variables in the game because it’s a

determinant factor for the block cohesiveness and the attack

efficacy (Afonso & Mesquita, 2011).

Afonso, J., & Mesquita, I. (2011). Determinants of block cohesiveness and attack efficacy in high-level women’s volleyball. European Journal

of Sport Science, 11(1), 69–75.

Attack tempo

4

INTRODUCTION

Data Volley System (Data Project, Bologna, Italy, release 3.4.2)

includes attack tempo in its category system.

5

INTRODUCTION

The different user manuals of this software are unclear with the

criteria to distinguish quick, fast, and high attacks.

Fernández, M., Salas, C., & Molina, J. J. (2009). Technical and tactical variations in the blocking of zero attacks considering contextual

variables: the influence of the scoreboard in volleyball. Kronos, 8(14), 71–78.

6

INTRODUCTION

Fernández et al. (2009) propose three criteria to define the attack

tempo categories:

1) Control the trajectory (maximum height) of the setting pass. 2) Observe the relationship between set and attack. 3) Examine the interaction between attack and block.

7

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the present study was to analyse the relationship

between attack tempo and type of block in high-level men’s

volleyball.

Thus, we expected to determine:

1) The time intervals when the different types of block are

significantly formed.

2) A temporal threshold to differentiate fast and high attacks of the

outside hitters.

Blanco, A., Losada, J. L., & Anguera, M. T. (2003). Data analysis techniques in observational designs applied to the environment-

behaviour relation. Medio Ambiente y Comportamiento Humano, 4(2), 111–126.

Bakeman, R., & Gottman, J. M. (1992). Observing interaction: an introduction to sequential analysis. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge

University Press.

8

METHODS

Type of data

Sequential Concurrent

Event-base

Time-base

I II

III IV

T12 DB .T12 DB .T18 HB .T14 DB .T04 HB .…

Multi-event

Timed-eventState/Interval

Event

Observational design

F/N/M

Nomothetic

Idiographic

Punctual Follow-up

9

METHODS

Participants

• 15 volleyball matches (57 sets) from the 2010 Men’s Pan-

American Cup held in San Juan (Puerto Rico).

• 9 national teams: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia,

Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, USA, and Venezuela.

• 1451 multi-events (attack-block interactions).

10

METHODS

Observational instrument

1) Attack tempo = 21 categories: 0.2 to 2.2 s.

2) Type of block = 5 categories (Data Volley System):

No block Single Hole Double Triple

11

METHODS

Procedures and material

The matches were recorded using a digital camcorder (JVC Everio

GZ-MG630) at 25 FPS.

12

METHODS

Procedures and material

Frame-by-frame analysis was performed using Kinovea video analysis

software (Charmant & Contrib., Bordeaux, France, release 0.8.15).

13

METHODS

Procedures and material

Multi-events were recorded using MS Excel 2007 and were analysed

using SDIS-GSEQ statistical software (Bakeman & Quera, Atlanta, GA,

EUA, release 5.1).

14

METHODS

Statistical analysis

• The relationship between attack

tempo and type of block criteria was

assessed using Pearson’s chi-square

tests for independence. Statistical

significance was set at P < 0.05.

• The adjusted residual for each cell

of the contingency table was

computed. A z-score greater than 1.96

indicated that the relationship between

a given and a target category was

significant.

15

RESULTS

• There was a relationship between attack tempo and type of block

criteria (2 = 718.50, P < 0.01).

• Twenty-two significant relationships were found between the given

and the target categories (Z > 1.96, P < 0.05):

No block Single Hole Double Triple

0.4, 0.8 – 0.9 s 0.2 – 0.9 s 1.0 – 1.2 s 1.3 – 1.8 s 1.6 – 1.8 s

16

DISCUSSION

Non-cohesive blocks + jump settings in ideal zones

+ attack simulations by the middle hitters

(Afonso, Mesquita, Marcelino, & Da Silva, 2010)

No block Single Hole Double Triple

Cohesive blocks + settings in non-

ideal zones + non-simulations by the

middle hitters (Afonso et al., 2010)

Quick attacks of the middle hitters: 0.3 – 0.5 s

(Selinger & Ackermann-Blount, 1992)

Fast attacks of the outside hitters: 0.6 – 1.2 s

(Selinger & Ackermann-Blount, 1992; Zimmermanm, 1993)

High attacks of the outside hitters: 1.3 s onwards

(Zimmermanm, 1993)

Afonso, J., Mesquita, I., Marcelino, R., & Da Silva, J.A. (2010). Analysis of the setter’s tactical action in high-performance women’s

volleyball. Kinesiology, 42(1), 82–89.

Selinger, A., & Ackermann-Blount, J. (1992). Power volleyball. Paris: Vigot.

Zimmermann, B. (1993). Main characteristics of defense (block, court defense, counterattack) in top volleyball. International Volley Tech,

1(93), 9–16.

17

CONCLUSIONS

Non-cohesive blocks

No-block Single Hole

0.2 – 1.2 s

Quick/Fast attacks

Double Triple

1.3 s onwards

Cohesive blocks

High attacks

Temporal threshold

18

Raúl Hileno, Cristòfol Salas, & Bernat Buscà