LANDING FORCES IN VOLLEYBALL SPIKING AND BLOCKING

The present study sought to investigate Vertical Ground Reaction Forces during landings from volleyball spiking and blocking actions. 16 players from Scottish Division 1 and 2 teams performed 10 spikes, 10 blocks from the right and 10 from the left, landing on two Kistler force plates. Kinematic data were also obtained using a 6-camera Qualisys motion capture system. The spike resulted in significantly larger VGRF than either of the blocks, probably due to the greater maximum height attained in the jump. Analysis of the significant interaction between action and feet showed that in the block to the right, the right foot experienced a significantly larger VRGF than the left. There were large inter-individual differences and coaches need to examine techniques closely before making recommendations about landings

BLOCKING THE QUICK ATTACK IN VOLLEYBALL: A 3D KINEMATIC ANALYSIS

The importance of the volleyball block against the quick attack is more important in the modern volleyball with new scoring system. Two types of tactics are used normally: the Read Block System (RBS) and the Commit Block System (CBS). A preliminary study was conducted to identify variables that quantified the differences between these two techniques. Four young players performing the RBS and the CBS were acquired by means of stereo-photogrammetry and kinematic variables were identified. The quantified analysis confirms coaches experience: in the RBS the hands arrive over the net in a shorter time, the feet start “naturally” wider but the jump performed has a lower height with respect to the CBS. Further longitudinal and transversal studies will be conducted with more subjects of different level and gender

A review of blocking in volleyball: from the notational analysis to biomechanics

This article reviews the state of art of the research concerning the biomechanics of blocking in volleyball. Since it is fundamental to link the "reality of the game" (what happens in the field) with laboratory simulations, the logic procedure to investigate this skill followed this progression: 1) the importance of block in the game was analyzed in terms of relationships with the match results. 2) Blocking footwork techniques were classified and data relative to the frequency of blocking to stop the opponents attack were collected and analysed. 3) Kinematical analyses of blocking techniques were performed in the laboratory of the Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Bologna, Italy. These results allow coaches to adjust the tactic in the game, to differentiate the type of drills and to develop some special exercises to train players for the improvement of their blocking technique