Analysis of the small-sided games in volleyball: an ecological approach

Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare the tactical and technical behavior of beginner players in volleyball side-out between four distinct situations of reduced games with different area/player ratios: 4.5 m2 (3.0 m x 3.0 m), 8.0 m2 (4.0 m x 4.0 m), 10.58 m2 (4.6 m x 4.6 m), and 13.52 m2 (5.2 m x 5.2 m). We analyzed 76 games played by 16 players with a mean age of 12.2 ± 0.5 years and experience of 1.2 ± 0.8 years of practice. Tactical and technical behavior was analyzed using an adaptation of the Game Performance Analysis Instrument (GPAI). The analysis was conducted for passing, setting and attacking according to the components related to technical adjustment, technical efficiency and decision-making. The results showed that players presented higher technical and tactical indexes in the passing and setting skills in 4.6 m x 4.6 m and 5.2 m x 5.2 m situations. Also, in the 3.0 m x 3.0 m situation higher technical indexes were found for the attacking. No differences were found in the tactical behavior of attacking for tested situations. We conclude that the environmental constraints imposed by the small-sided games imply distinct technical and technical behaviors. Thus, the pedagogical strategy of using small-sided games for the teaching of volleyball for beginner players must be associated with the intended objectives for each basic volleyball skills.

摘要 本研究旨在对比四类不同场地面积与球员配比的小场排球接发球攻防场景下，排球初学者的战术与技术表现。四类场景的场地尺寸分别为：4.5 m²（3.0 m × 3.0 m）、8.0 m²（4.0 m × 4.0 m）、10.58 m²（4.6 m × 4.6 m）及13.52 m²（5.2 m × 5.2 m）。本研究共分析了16名平均年龄为12.2±0.5岁、平均排球训练经验为1.2±0.8年的球员参与的76场比赛。采用改编版比赛表现分析工具（Game Performance Analysis Instrument, GPAI）对球员的战术与技术表现进行分析，围绕一传、二传与进攻三个环节，从技术调整、技术效率与决策制定三个相关维度展开评估。研究结果显示，在4.6 m × 4.6 m与5.2 m × 5.2 m的场景中，球员在一传与二传技术上的战术与技术指标更高；而在3.0 m × 3.0 m的场景中，球员的进攻技术指标更优。不同测试场景下，球员的进攻战术表现未呈现显著差异。本研究得出结论：小场对抗赛所施加的环境约束会导致球员呈现出差异化的技术与战术行为。因此，在面向排球初学者的排球教学中应用小场对抗赛的教学策略时，需结合各项排球基础技术的预期教学目标进行适配。