Using Microsensor Technology to Quantify Match Demands in Collegiate Women's Volleyball

Abstract

Vlantes, TG and Readdy, T. Using microsensor technology to quantify match demands in collegiate women's volleyball. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3266-3278, 2017-The purpose of this study was to quantify internal and external load demands of women's NCAA Division I collegiate volleyball competitions using microsensor technology and session rating of perceived exertion (S-RPE). Eleven collegiate volleyball players wore microsensor technology (Optimeye S5; Catapult Sports, Chicago, IL, USA) during 15 matches played throughout the 2016 season. Parameters examined include player load (PL), high impact PL, percentage of HI PL, explosive efforts (EEs), and jumps. Session rating of perceived exertion was collected 20 minutes postmatch using a modified Borg scale. The relationship between internal and external load was explored, comparing S-RPE data with the microsensor metrics (PL, HI PL, % HI PL, EEs, and jumps). The setter had the greatest mean PL and highest number of jumps of all positions in a 5-1 system, playing all 6 rotations. Playing 4 sets yielded a mean PL increase of 25.1% over 3 sets, whereas playing 5 sets showed a 31.0% increase in PL. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) across all position groups when examining % HI PL and jumps. Cohen's d analysis revealed large (≥0.8) effect sizes for these differences. Defensive specialists recorded the greatest mean S-RPE values over all 15 matches (886 ± 384.6). Establishing positional load demands allows coaches, trainers, and strength and conditioning professionals to implement training programs for position-specific demands, creating consistent peak performance, and reducing injury risk.

The Effect of Plyometric Training in Volleyball Players: A Systematic Review

“…A vertical jump is a complex movement that requires the coordination of several muscles in the trunk, arms and legs [11]. Knowing that each player performs more than 250 jumps in a volleyball match of five sets [12,13], jumping ability has been identified as one of the key determining factors of high performance in volleyball [14].…”

Anthropometric and Motor Performance Variables are Decisive Factors for the Selection of Junior National Female Volleyball Players

“…Volleyball is a team sport involving short explosive activity bursts, such as serves, receptions, passes, spikes, short sprints, jumps and high speed movements with change of direction (Hank et al, 2015; Lidor and Ziv, 2010a; Valladares et al, 2016; Vlantes and Readdy, 2017). Successful volleyball players are tall and lean, and are characterized by a high level of jumping ability, as well as technical and tactical skills (Gabbett et al, 2007; Malousaris et al, 2008; Rikberg and Raudsepp, 2011; Sheppard et al, 2009).…”

Bilateral Asymmetries in Ultrasound Assessments of the Rectus Femoris throughout an NCAA Division I Volleyball Preseason

“…Session RPE is the product of session duration and an athlete’s RPE and is a valid and reliable indicator of internal training load [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Also, s-RPE has been utilized in previous volleyball research to quantify internal training loads throughout 3-, 4-, and 5-set match-play [ 10 ]. Throughout the preseason, after each training session, athletes reported their RPE using the validated modified Borg scale that ranged from 0–10, with 10 being maximum-effort activity [ 17 ].…”

“…Volleyball athletes can accumulate more than 44 high-intensity jumps in games and more than 115 high-intensity jumps in high-volume practices [ 9 ]. In addition to jump loads, session (s-RPE) ratings of perceived exertion have been used to quantify internal training load and can exceed 1334 arbitrary units (AU) during a five-set match [ 10 ]. A five-set match is physically demanding; however, it is reasonable to suggest that preseason training, at times, imposes a greater training load than a five-set match.…”