Fernando Claver

Analysis of the relationship between the amount of training and cognitive expertise. A study of young volleyball players.

Abstract Gil, A, Moreno, MP, Moreno, A, García-González, L, Claver, F, and Del Villar, F. Analysis of the relationship between the amount of training and cognitive expertise. A study of young volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 27(3): 698–702, 2013—The main goal of this research was to analyze the relationship between the amount of practice accumulated in training and the level of cognitive expertise achieved by volleyball players who are still in training. Another goal was to determine the number of training hours per week needed to improve knowledge significantly. The studys sample was composed of 520 volleyball players between the ages of 12 and 16 years. The independent variable was the amount of training, defined as the number of weekly hours that the volleyball player devoted to training. The dependent variable was cognitive expertise, measured by declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge. A univariate analysis of variance was done to examine the relationship between the number of weekly hours and the declarative and procedural knowledge reached by volleyball players in the athletic formation training stages. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. There were significant differences in knowledge according to the number of weekly training hours (p < 0.001). These results confirm that there is a relationship between the quantity of practice and the development of cognitive expertise. It is recommended that young players dedicate at least 4 hours weekly to training to achieve a significant improvement in cognitive expertise.

Analysis of the variables that predict serve efficacy in young volleyball players

The main objective of this research study was to analyse, in volleyball, the prediction level of different serve variables on its efficacy. The sample was comprised of 2038 serve actions, corresponding to 36 female teams participating in the Spanish Championship female in 2010 in the Under-14 and Under-16 categories. The independent variables were: serve zone, serve type, striking technique, in-game role of the server, reception zone, receiver player and serve direction. The dependent variable was serve efficacy. The multinomial logistic regression applied showed that all the variables considered in the study, except for serve direction and striking technique, predicted the efficacy of serve. The probability of increasing serve efficacy was achieved through: executing standing serves, serving to the space between players and serve reception by players other than the libero. These results can guide coaches in volleyball player training processes, with respect to the serve action.

Variables that Predict Serve Efficacy in Elite Men’s Volleyball with Different Quality of Opposition Sets

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the variables that predicted serve efficacy in elite men’s volleyball, in sets with different quality of opposition. 3292 serve actions were analysed, of which 2254 were carried out in high quality of opposition sets and 1038 actions were in low quality of opposition sets, corresponding to a total of 24 matches played during the Men’s European Volleyball Championships held in 2011. The independent variables considered in this study were the serve zone, serve type, serving player, serve direction, reception zone, receiving player and reception type; the dependent variable was serve efficacy and the situational variable was quality of opposition sets. The variables that acted as predictors in both high and low quality of opposition sets were the serving player, reception zone and reception type. The serve type variable only acted as a predictor in high quality of opposition sets, while the serve zone variable only acted as a predictor in low quality of opposition sets. These results may provide important guidance in men’s volleyball training processes.

The Cognitive and Motivation Intervention Program in Youth Female Volleyball Players

Abstract This study, grounded in Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan, 1985, 2002) was aimed to determine the influence of a cognitive-motivational intervention program, to improve the basic psychological need satisfaction of autonomy and competence, autonomous motivation, procedural knowledge, perceived performance and sport commitment, in youth volleyball players. Participants included 34 Under-19 female volleyball players. A quasi-experimental design was carried out with an experimental group (n = 16; M = 17.45; SD = .45) and a control group (n = 18; M = 16.64; SD = .70). The experimental group followed a multidimensional intervention program comprised of 24 sessions held over three months (two training sessions per week). It was based on two strategies: giving athletes the possibility of choice in specific training tasks (proposing training situations with several action alternatives) and questioning (cognitively involving players through tactical questions). A repeated-measures MANOVA 2 (group: experimental and control) x 2 (time: pre-test and post-test) was used to analyse the effect of Group x Time interaction. The results of the inter-group analysis showed significant differences in the post-test measurement between the experimental group and the control group (in favour of the experimental group) in the variables: basic psychological need satisfaction of autonomy and competence, autonomous motivation, procedural knowledge, perceived performance and sport commitment. Given the relevance of the cognitive-motivational processes, not only for performance but also for sport commitment, this intervention has important implications for sport coaching.

Estudio de los modelos de juego en voleibol de etapas de formación . (Study of the models of game in volleyball of formative stages).

El objetivo de la investigacion fue conocer los modelos de juego empleados por diferentes equipos de voleibol de etapas de formacion. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 66 equipos participantes en el Campeonato de Espana de Selecciones Autonomicas infantil (13-14 anos) y cadete (15-16 anos) y por 21 equipos participantes en el Campeonato de Espana Juvenil Masculino (17-19 anos). Las variables fueron: sistema de ataque, sistema de recepcion, incorporacion del libero y sistema de defensa. Los resultados mostraron que los sistemas mas empleados en etapas de formacion fueron: sistema de ataque 5-1; sistema de recepcion de cuatro jugadores en semicirculo, en categoria infantil y de tres jugadores en V, en categoria cadete y juvenil; incorporacion del libero, excepto en categoria infantil en ambos generos; en defensa, la posicion inicial habitual fue 3-2-1 y las posiciones finales mas habituales por los laterales fueron 2-0-4, en el genero masculino, y 2-1-3, en el genero femenino. Ademas de ello, se obtuvo una asociacion muy leve entre el genero y las posiciones finales de defensa por los laterales en categoria infantil y cadete. Finalmente, por la zona central de la red las posiciones mas comunes fueron 1-2-3, en categoria infantil y cadete, y 2-1-3 en categoria juvenil. Estos resultados pueden ser considerados por los entrenadores de equipos de etapas de formacion para la eleccion o analisis de modelos de juego en voleibol. Palabras clave: patron de juego, deporte, genero.

Cognitive and emotional factors as predictors of performance indicators in young volleyball players

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the need for using the key performance indicators, in order to guide training and consequently, competition. Some studies used the game action efficacy, the match result or the classification as a reference, while others used player’s or coach’s perception of performance. Thus, a predictive study with the aim to analyze several performance indicators in volleyball formative stages, was realized. The sample consisted of 164 players from all 16 teams (male and female) of an Under-16 volleyball league. Dependent variables: game action efficacy, classification and player’s perceived performance. Independent variables: procedural knowledge, decision-making, motivation and basic psychological needs. The results of the regression analysis showed that game action efficacy and classification were predicted only by cognitive variables (knowledge and decision-making), while players’ perceived performance was predicted by the basic need of relatedness. The different performance indicators appear to measure different realities, being predicted by different variables. Mixed methods could provide a better understanding of performance than a single analytic approach alone, combining descriptions from the inside and from the outside.

Rol de juego y características del saque en voleibol infantil femenino

The main objective of this study was to analyze the serve characteristics depending on the in-game role, in female formative stages. The sample was comprised of 1229 serves, corresponding to the observation of the 18 teams participating in the Under-14 category Spanish Championship in 2010. The studied variables were: in-game role, serve zone, serve type, striking technique, reception zone, receiver player and serve effectiveness. The results showed a significant association between the in-game role with serve zone, serve type, striking technique and serve effectiveness. However, there is not a association between the in-game with variables that reflect the intention to direct the serve to a specific players or specific area were found.