Analysis of jumping in the spike, block and set skills of female volleyball players

Resumen

The purpose of this study was to quantify the different types of jump observed during volleyball matches. Jumps were classifi ed as block jumps, spike jumps or set jumps. The sample was 12 video-taped National Women’s Volleyball League matches. They were analyzed for specifi c types of jumping, such as spike jumps with and without approach; block jumps with and without step movement; and set jumps. Matches were recorded by two video cameras placed at the back court on each side of the net. Data were collected from the video tapes and each variable was recorded on a sheet of paper for subsequent statistical analysis. The results demonstrated that the highest mean numbers of any jump type per game performed by setters were of the type set jump: 39.0 ± 5.51, 57.3 ± 32.23 and 33 ± 8.49, in games of 3, 4 and 5 sets respectively. For outside hitter players the greatest number of jumps were of the type spike jump with approach, in games of 3, 4 and 5 sets respectively (20.44 ± 5.15, 29.23 ± 7.16 and 35.67 ± 13.21). Middle block players exhibited mean values for block jumps with step movements of 17.04 ± 8.19, 29.9 ± 10.85 and 34.25 ± 5.62, respectively. These results indicate that there was no difference between outside hitters and middle block players in 5-set games in terms of numbers of spike jumps with approach. There was a significant difference between setters and outside hitters in numbers of spike jumps without approach, in games of 3 and 5 sets. There were no differences between any of the positions in block jumps with step in games of 3, 4 or 5 sets. There was no difference between middle block and outside hitter players in terms of set jumps. It was concluded that setters exhibited the highest average number of set jumps per game, outside hitters exhibited the highest mean number of spike jumps with approach and middle block players exhibited highest mean numbers per match of block jumps with step movement.