Study of zones and efficacy of the reception according the receiver player in female senior volleyball

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the action of Libero Player and Priority Receivers, regarding to efficacy and receive zones and also established the relationship between receive zones and the reception outcome in female Senior Volleyball. The sample was composed by 683 receptions in 6 games played by Women National Teams included on the Poule I at the European Championship 2005 qualification (Belarus, Hungary, Portugal and Denmark). The data were gathered through video camera. In order to increase the accuracy and objectivity of the images, they were digitalized. Descriptive statistics were performed for all variables and it was used the qui-square test (c²) to compare the groups (received player) and the association between variables (zone and reception efficacy). Kappa of Cohen analysis and percentage of agreement demonstrated good intra-observer and inter-observer reliability which confirmed the accuracy of observations. Our data did not confirm the influence of Libero player to increase the reception efficacy comparatively to which one of the priority receivers or with the other non-specialist receivers. However, Libero player received significantly more on the Z6 and the Priority Receivers on the Z5. In addition, our results did not found a significant relationship between intervention-zones and reception efficacy. The topographical model used might have been the primary reason for the absence of association observed, and not the fact that reception-zone does not interfere on reception efficacy. These results suggest that the current six-zone, equal division of the playing field, does not support the real game functionality, which indicates that it is an inappropriate method for assessment and should be confirmedin further studies.