Execution zones and blocking types in Cienfuegos
men's youth Volleyball
Abstract
Blocking is one of the most
difficult actions in volleyball to master. It is the only element of the game
that allows two or three players to play simultaneously. It constitutes the
backbone of the defensive system and the focal point for defending the court,
and is the fastest way to execute a counterattack. The objective of this
research was to determine the impact of blocking by zones of execution and its
types among the Cienfuegos province men's youth Volleyball team in the 2024
National Championship. The six games played by this team in the championship
were analyzed. Methods and/or techniques such as observation, interviews,
measurements, and a methodological workshop were used. The Navelo-Control
Automated Performance Control Program, approved by the Cuban Volleyball
Federation for use in elite championships, was used to analyze and process the
data. The data was collected at the competition site, and the main result was
that blockers predominantly used double blocks on the ends of the court.
Weakness in zone 3 blocks and limited use of triple blocks in zone 4 were
evident, despite the Cuban Volleyball team's tendency to perform many spikes in
that zone, which is counterproductive for containing the opposing team's
offense. This result contains relevant information as a reference for the
training and preparation of this team's players.
Keywords: Volleyball, blocking, technical-tactical performance.
Introduction
Volleyball, as a team sport, has
its own distinctive characteristics, so much so that the changes introduced to
its rules in recent years have structured its dynamics into complex systems and
forms of play. As a result, player training has shifted toward greater
specialization, especially in offensive actions such as blocking, serving, and
spiking. In the specific case of blocking, its importance lies in being a
team's first defensive action to neutralize the opponent's attack and score the
points that lead to victory. (Echeverría, Ortega,
& Palao, 2020)
Currently, in the training and
preparation of Volleyball players, it is becoming increasingly necessary to
delve into the actions that have the greatest impact on the game to achieve
success, such as blocking. There are variables that influence the success of
this action; they not only reflect the characteristics of the game, but can
also provide information for match management and training planning (Mon et
al., 2019).
The preparation of Volleyball
players is a process increasingly supported by the study of the characteristics
expressed in competitive activity (Mon et al., 2019; da Silva et al., 2023).
Therefore, understanding the individual and collective performance indicators
of a team is crucial for the work of coaches, whether in training or
competition (Drikos et al., 2021; Giatsis
et al., 2023).
In today's competitive
environment, it is essential for coaches to have accurate information on
blocking as a determining factor in the game (Felisatti;
Lujan & Quesada, 2022). Having this type of data allows them to develop
more efficient technical and tactical preparation of their players, resulting
in satisfactory results during the competition.
To achieve these aspirations, it
is necessary to have reference values in the category or for the
team itself. Winning or losing a match will be determined by the level of
precision in designing the players' preparation. This context requires coaches
to have in-depth knowledge of the characteristics of competitive activity and
of their team in particular (Collet, Nascimento, Folle,
Ibáñez, 2018). From the above, it can be deduced that analyzing competitive
performance to improve training processes is vital in the context of modern Volleyball.
From the perspective outlined
above, regarding the youth teams representing the province of Cienfuegos, to
date, it has been found that few studies have been conducted related to the
performance of this important element in national championships.
Understanding the areas where
blocking is most or least performed in the game and the organization of the
players involved could provide information on the defensive demands of the game
and what aspects players must master individually and for the team. (Da Silva,
et al., 2023)
Given the above, the objective of
this research was to determine the impact of blocking by zones of execution and
its types on the youth boys' Volleyball team from the province of Cienfuegos in
the 2024 National Championship for this category. All this information can
serve as a reference for the training and preparation of this team.
Materials and Methods
The research was based on a
descriptive methodology that considered the dynamics of the game and the
actions of its participants in their own environment. A descriptive
observational design with a field format (Anguera and
Hernández, 2013) was used, where each recorded value is unique and without
subsequent follow-up (Echeverría, 2015). The
population for this research was the six matches played by the Cienfuegos team,
participating in the National Junior Men's Volleyball Championship, 1st
Division, held in the province of Matanzas in 2024.
The research was conducted in
three stages. In the first, a diagnosis was made of the blocking training
characteristics of the players on the studied team. An interview was conducted
with the two coaches of this team, which consisted of ten open-ended questions
aimed at determining aspects related to their level of knowledge about reference
values in their category and the areas where blocking actions are
most effective. We also sought to understand the importance this element holds
for them in a match. Another aspect to explore concerned how their players
model their tactical blocking behavior during technical and tactical
preparation.
A bibliographic review of
scientific research related to blocking was also conducted. The objective of
this action was to determine the trends in the studies developed on this
element of the Volleyball game. Another important element in this regard was to
determine whether previous studies were taken into account, providing a clear
vision for directing training tasks. The objective was to determine whether
specific guidelines were provided in pre- or in-match meetings regarding player
behavior in the different blocking zones and the criteria used for their
implementation.
In the second stage, one week
before the competition, two Methodological Workshop sessions were held to
prepare the observers. The first aimed to prepare them and develop their skills
for collecting information through direct observation in the competition
setting, using the Automated Performance Monitoring Program called "Navelo Control" by Navelo
(2019).
The information is processed
using the PLUS-MINUS method and is an expanded version of pre-established
codes, allowing immediate information to be provided in performance reports for
different actions, both individually and by game complex. It also records the
actions that complete the passage of play, that is, those that contribute or
subtract points in a team's victory or defeat.
The second workshop aimed to
familiarize observers with the characteristics of the facility and to conduct
practices in conditions as close to competition as possible. A preparation
match of the team under study was recorded, which allowed for familiarization
with the dynamics of data collection and processing.
In the third stage, during the
development of the study, measurement was used as a method to collect and
evaluate data on blocking efficiency. Direct observation was carried out in the
game scenario, analyzing a total of six matches played by the team studied,
with a total of 22 sets played. The observed and analyzed variables, on which
information was generated, were the following.
A. Blocking zone: defined as the
zone where the player(s) perform the blocking action. Therefore, as shown in
Figure 1, the front zones were established for observation and subsequent
analysis.
|
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
||
B. Block Type: Defined by the
number of blockers performing the action against the opposing spike. Three
types of blocks were defined:
• 1 block: when the block is single.
• 2 block: when
the block is double.
• 3 block: when
the block is triple.
C. Block Performance: This data
is provided by the program through its formula, which expresses the ratio of
the number of players against attacks, taking into account adequate performance
when the block is effective or ineffective, that is, whether the point is won
or lost.
The data analysis method met the
following requirements:
• Spontaneity of the players' behavior, as
their actions were not intervened at any time.
• The recorded actions were recorded in
their natural context, as they were observed during the team's participation in
its official competition.
• Use of media or instruments. The "Navelo-Control"
Automated Statistical Control System (ATS) was used by a computer. This system
was created to control game actions, using its own categories and coding for
the variables studied.
The observation was conducted in
the multipurpose gymnasium of the "Luis Augusto Turcios Lima" School
for School Sports Initiation (SIS) in the province of Matanzas, the competition
venue. The observation and data collection were carried out by the researchers,
who were positioned on the sidelines with a computer and using the "Navelo-Control" Statistical Control System.
The results of the collection and
processing of statistical data obtained in each match were subjected to a
validation process between the statistical system used and the points confirmed
by the official score sheet. These actions demonstrated the security and
accuracy of the information. The program then processed the data in several
automatic information tables, providing performance reports for the different
actions individually and by game complex. However, for this study, only data
related to the blocking performance of the Cienfuegos province team players
were used.
Results and Discussion
The literature review revealed
trends in blocking studies, highlighting the importance of having reference
values corresponding to the players' age group and gender.
Likewise, they consider the modeling of training and the establishment of the
contents to be worked on, based on the determining actions of the game, to be
of great significance (Drikos, Barzouka,
Nikolaidov and Sotiropoulas,
2021; Da Silva, et. al., 2023).
Along the same lines, there is
also a prevailing tendency to place great importance on the study of
competitive activity in this sport, also demonstrating the use of observational
methodology in real-life game situations. (Echeverría,
Ortega, & Palao, 2020)
Interviews with the coaches of
the studied team revealed that they recognize the importance of blocking as a
determining element in volleyball play. However, they admitted they had no data
or reference values for the areas with the highest or lowest
incidence and the most commonly used type of blocking, either generally or by
area. Furthermore, they stated they had not had a similar experience
previously.
The determining factor in the
blocking assessment was the total number of blocks executed by each blocking
zone and the number of blockers involved. Table 1 shows the total number of
blocks executed, the zones where they were executed, the different types of
blocks, and the percentages they represent in each zone.
Table 1. List of blocks by zone
and number of blockers involved in each zone.
Blockade execution zones |
Zone 4 |
Zone 3 |
Zone 2 |
||||||
Number of blockers |
1/B |
2/B |
3/B |
1/B |
2/B |
3/B |
1/B |
2/B |
3/B |
|
Total number of blocks carried out by the different zones and their %
according to the type of block |
37 |
60 |
7 |
70 |
19 |
2 |
26 |
45 |
3 |
|
35.6% |
57.7% |
6.7% |
76.9% |
20.9% |
2.2% |
35.2% |
60.8% |
4.0% |
|
|
104 |
91 |
74 |
|||||||
|
% execution according to blocking zones |
38,6 % |
33,9 % |
27,5 % |
||||||
Total blocks |
269 |
||||||||
Legend: 1/B: one blocker 2/B: two blockers 3/B: three blockers
Regarding the zone where the
blocking action was most executed, Zone 4 had the highest percentage of
actions. However, the percentages between Zone 4 and Zone 3 are relatively
similar. Logically, this is directly related to the zone most used by opponents
for their finishing actions. Regarding the number of blockers participating in
the execution of the block in each zone, the following was observed:
• In Zone 4, the highest number of blocks
was characterized by the participation of two blockers, with values
above 50% execution, higher than the other blocker counts, while
the participation of three blockers or triple block barely exceeds 5%
execution.
• In Zone 3, the largest number of blocks
was characterized by the participation of a single blocker, exceeding 90% of
the total blocks executed in this zone. In this zone, the minimal execution of
triple block actions was evident, and double block actions barely exceeded 20%.
• Zone 2, although it had the fewest blocks executed, presented the same
characteristics as Zone 4. Very few triple blocks were executed, and more than
60% of blocks were executed by two players.
Table 2 shows the total number of
blocks and the number of blockers involved in the action by type.
Table 2. List of blocks and the number
of blockers involved in the action.
Number of players involved in the blocking action |
1/B |
2/B |
3/B |
Total blocks |
133 |
124 |
12 |
% of blocks by number of blockers |
49,4% |
46,1% |
4,5% |
Total number of blocks |
269 |
||
Legend: 1/B: one blocker 2/B: two blockers 3/B:
three blockers
Table 2 shows the total number of
blocking actions, with the participation of a single blocker being the most
common among this team's players in the competition, although their numbers are
very similar to those of two-player blocking actions. This highlights the low
level of triple blocking, sometimes because the opportunities are lacking and
other times because they don't use it due to poor tactical analysis of the game
situation. Therefore, all this information is an important element for coaches
to consider when planning their team's preparation and defensive tactical
systems.
Regarding the results of the
literature review and interviews with coaches, there is a consensus on the need
to establish preparation based on the study of competitive activity. Therefore,
the relevance of the study is evident and necessary, constituting an important
experience for the team's coaches. The demands placed on blockers have
increased because the offense has become more explosive and offensive
combinations are being played at very fast speeds, coinciding with the results
of Hernández (2020).
Consistent with the results of
Marques (2019) and Hernández (2020), it is concluded that the work of blockers
becomes a permanent necessity to enable the improvement of the process with
their methods and content of technical-tactical training. In this context, the
blocking results of this team denote the need to seek adaptations to the
actions of opposing attackers, taking into consideration the characteristics of
the players, whose average height is not very tall.
The above reasons indicate that
this team needs to place greater emphasis on the use of double and triple
blocks, as the predominant type was single, as also seen in the work of Portela et al. (2022). The fact that in Zone 4, the highest
number of blocks was characterized by the participation of two blockers denotes
a team weakness.
The fact that fewer blocks are
produced in Zone 2 is considered a direct consequence of the characteristic of
Cuban volleyball, where fewer passes and, consequently, fewer spikes are
produced in Zone 2. However, much attention is drawn to this team's limited use
of triple blocks as a way to reduce the spiker's advantage over the block,
especially considering the high incidence of spikes with high passes in Zone 4.
Conclusions
The data provided by this study
show the occurrence, frequency, and type of blocking performed by the
Cienfuegos youth team in the 2024 national championship. The study of the
team's execution zones and blocking types allowed us to characterize their
current performance, providing real-world information for decision-making in
the training of the team's players. Another very significant element to analyze
in the preparation of this team is the fact that, although Zone 4 is where the
most shots on high passes are made, as demonstrated by previous studies, the
fact that a high number of individual blocking actions are observed in this
area of the field constitutes a weakness.
Blocking requires experience and
development in players to be successful, so future research could focus on
monitoring this study with these players throughout their time in higher
competitive categories. This would allow for a better understanding of the development
and most influential factors in blocking. Blocking performance increases and
the number of errors decreases as the category analyzed increases; therefore,
it is important to follow up on this type of research, as there are no previous
studies of this category in the province of Cienfuegos.
Acknowledgments
The authors consider it
appropriate to express their gratitude to Rafael de Mato Navelo
Cabello, Ph.D., creator of the "Navelo-Control"
Statistical Control System, and to José Luís Camacho Fernández, M.D., from the
"Marta Abreu" Central University of Las Villas, for providing us with
material resources and their time to conduct this research.
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