The aim of this investigation was to establish the criteria of service, reception and set that determine setting efficacy in world-class top-level volleyball. The study sample consisted of 4.113 gaming actions (1.371 serve actions, 1.371 reception actions, and 1.371 set actions), corresponding to the observation of four matches for each of the 12 best ranked teams in the Volleyball World Championship -a total of 23 matches. The criteria were: in-game role of the server, serve zone, type of serve, striking technique and serve direction; receiver player, reception zone, and reception efficacy; setting zone, type of set, setting technique, setting efficacy, a set's area, and set tempo. Multinomial logistic regression showed that criteria related to reception (reception efficacy) and to set (setting zone, type of set, a set's area, and set tempo) determined set efficacy. Specifically, positive and negative receptions and settings from acceptable and nonacceptable zones reduced perfect setting. In contrast, the jump set toward zones three and six and the first and second tempo increased perfect setting. Serve criteria did not determine set efficacy. This study can guide trainers and players in the training process.

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El objetivo principal de la presente investigación fue conocer las variables, relativas a la recepción, que actúan como predictoras de la eficacia de la recepción. Se analizaron 1325 acciones de recepción, extraídas de un total de 21 equipos participantes en el Campeonato de España Masculino de Categoría Juvenil de 2012. La variable dependiente considerada en la investigación fue la eficacia de la recepción. Las variables independientes fueron: movimiento del receptor, función del receptor, tipo de recepción, zona de recepción-profundidad, zona de recepción-lateralidad. La regresión logística multinomial realizada mostró que las variables movimiento del receptor, tipo de recepción y zona de recepción-lateralidad, actuaron como predictoras de la eficacia de la recepción. Concretamente, la eficacia de la recepción aumentaba si el receptor realizaba un desplazamiento previo y conseguía contactar en posición estática, y si recibía en el pasillo de zona 6, y a través de una técnica de antebrazos o de dedos. Los resultados obtenidos pueden orientar el proceso de entrenamiento de la recepción del saque en voleibol de categoría juvenil. Abstract. The main objective of this research was to determine the variables, relatives of the reception that act as predictors of the reception efficacy. 1325 serve reception were analyzed, extracted from a total of 21 games played in the championship of Spain in U-19 male volleyball, in 2012. The variable dependent on the study was the reception efficacy. The variables independent from the study were: receiver movement, in-game role of the receiver, type of reception, depth reception zone, laterality reception zone. The multinomial logistic regression performed showed that the variables, receiver movement, type of reception and laterality reception zone predicted the reception efficacy. Specifically the reception efficacy could increase if the receiver takes a previous displacement and contact in static position also the realization of service reception in corridor zone 6 and a through of the forearm pass or overhand pass. These results can serve to guide the training process both in training and in the category of high-level.

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The main objective of this research was to determine the association between performance in the different game actions and the final classification of the teams, in male volleyball. The systematic observation was used to analyse the 7888 game actions corresponding to the 21 teams participating in the male Spanish Championship, U-19 category.The study variables were: performance in all game actions and classification. A Cluster analysis was performed to establish the different classification groups. The data analysis was performed through an inferential analysis with the Chi-Square and Cramer's V. The results showed the significant association between the final classification and the actions of reception, setting, attack, block and defense (p<0.05). These results show that higher performance in all game actions, except serve, are associated with a better position in the final ranking. These results can be taken into account in the training process of male volleyball players, U-19 category. AUTHORS:Manuel Conejero INTRODUCTIONPerformance analysis in sport is based on the interpretation of different performance indicators, which allow us to develop different tactical and technical evaluations (8) , that can be useful in training planning (15) . Among the different performance indicators in sport we can highlight game actions' efficacy (5) , won/lost points (11) , set result (5) , match result (3) , and final classification (10) .In volleyball, the most used indicator for performance analysis is the game actions' efficacy (15) . The actions in volleyball are cyclical and sequential, differentiating four fundamental game complexes (2) . The complex 0 (K0) includes the action of the serve, by which the play starts, and aims to achieve direct point or reduce the options of the opposite attack (17) . Complex 1 (K1), or attack phase, includes the actions of reception, setting, attack and attack coverage. The objective of this complex is to neutralize and counteract the opposing serve, and build an attack to obtain the point (13) . Complex 2 (K2), or defense phase, includes block, defense, setting, counterattack and counterattack coverage. The objective of this complex is to neutralize and counteract the counterattack, and build a counterattack that allows to obtain the point (16) . Complex 3 (K3), or counterattack phase, includes the actions of block, defense, setting, counterattacking and counterattack coverage. Its main objective is to neutralize and counteract the counterattack from the K2 of the opposing team, and to organize a new counterattack (9) . In volleyball, there are two types of actions: intermediate and finalists. Intermediate actions are those with which it is not usual to obtain a direct point (reception, setting and defense) (11) . The finalist actions are those that usually obtain a direct point (serve, attack and block) (12) . Therefore, a player/team can get point mainly in four different ways: by serve, attack, block, or through unforced errors of the opponent (7) . Many studies have analy...

The aim of the study was to determine how different variables of the setting action affect to the block participation in high level male volleyball. The study sample was comprised of a total of 2742 game actions, divided into 1371 setting actions and 1371 block actions, corresponding to the observation of the 24 matches of the third stage of the World Male Volleyball Championship, absolute category. The dependent variable was block participation (zero or one blocker, two blockers, three blockers). The independent variables were: setting zone (excellent, acceptable, unacceptable), type of set (standing set, jump set), setting technique (overhand set, forearm set), set´s area (zone one, zone two, zone three, zone four, zone six) and tempo of set (first tempo, second tempo, third tempo). The result of this study showed that the variables setting zone, type of set, set's area and tempo of set, were predictors of the block participation. Thus, the decision-making of the setter in the setting action as well as the type, area and tempo of set, has high relevance in game, affecting to the block participation of the opposing team.

In the management of team sport competition, timeouts are one of the main tools of the coach to stop the game. It could be used on changing trends or the rhythm of the game, and also on providing relevant information to the players. So, it may have an important effect in sporting success. The main objective of the research was to analyse the use of timeouts (TO) in U-19 male volleyball teams, as well as the effect of the game on then, depending on the match score (winning-balanced, or losing). 171 timeouts, requested by coaches of the 21 teams participating in the U-19 male Spanish Championship 2012, were analysed. The variables considered in this study were: match score (TO requested when winning-balanced score or when losing); score difference (0-1 points, 2-3 points, 4 or more points); lost rallies (0-1 rallies, 2 rallies, ≥ 3 rallies); game period (initial moment of the set, final moment of the set); timeout effect (positive timeout effect and time out with no effect). The results showed that variables significantly associated with the TO request with different score (winning-balanced, losing) were: score difference, game period and timeout effect. Specifically, contributed positively to the association: TO request with winning-balanced score with the score difference of 0-1 points, with the final moments of the set and with the positive timeout effect; TO request with a losing score with the score difference of 4 or more points, in the initial moments of the set and with no effect of the timeout. This results could be taken into account in the process of team management in competition, in volleyball formative stages.

El objetivo de la investigación fue conocer las variables de recepción que predecían su eficacia, en diferentes niveles de juego (U-21, absoluto) en voleibol masculino. La muestra del estudio estuvo compuesta 3442 acciones de recepción, de las cuales 1894 corresponden a categoría U-21 (U-21 Men´s World Championship) y 1548 a categoría absoluta (Absolute Men´s World Championship). Las variables del estudio fueron: función del receptor, desplazamiento previo del receptor, tipo de recepción, posición del receptor, técnica de recepción, zona de recepción, eficacia de recepción. El análisis de regresión logística multinomial mostró que, el desplazamiento previo del receptor y la técnica de recepción fueron predictoras en ambas categorías, U-21 y absoluta; el tipo de recepción y zona de recepción fueron predictoras únicamente en U-21; la posición del receptor fue predictora únicamente en absoluta. Dicha información puede ayudar al proceso de entrenamiento favoreciendo el diseño de tareas concretas para cada nivel de juego.