Match duration and number of rallies in men´s and women´s 2000-2010 FIVB world tour beach volleyball

Abstract

After the 2000 Olympic Games, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) modified the scoring system used in beach volleyball from side-out to a rally point system. The goal was to facilitate the comprehension of the game and to stabilize match duration. The purpose of this study was to assess the duration and number of rallies in men’s and women’s beach volleyball matches (2000–2010 FIVB World Tour). Data from 14,432 men’s matches and 14,175 women’s matches of the 2000–2010 World Tour were collected. The variables studied were: match duration, total rallies per set and match, number of sets, team that won the set and match, type of match (equality in score), and gender. The average match duration in beach volleyball is stable, ranging from 30 to 64 minutes, regardless of the number of sets, the stage of the tournament (qualifying round or main draw), or gender. The average number of rallies per match were 78–80 for two-set matches and 94–96 for three-set matches. Matches from the main draw are more balanced than matches from the qualifying round. More balanced matches (smaller point difference between teams) have longer durations. It is not clear why there is no relationship between the number of rallies and match duration. Future studies are needed to clarify this aspect. The results can serve as a reference to guide beach volleyball training (with regard to duration and number of rallies) and to help understand the effect of the rule change.

Which are the Nutritional Supplements Used by Beach-Volleyball Athletes? A Cross-Sectional Study at the Italian National Championship

“…Beach volleyball is an intermittent team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net [2]. It is characterised by frequent high-intensity efforts interposed by short recovery phases [3]. The performance involves jumps (e.g., attacking, serving, blocking), short sprints, changes of direction and diving digs [4].…”

“…The performance involves jumps (e.g., attacking, serving, blocking), short sprints, changes of direction and diving digs [4]. During a single set, Palao et al [3] observed that defenders and blockers performed an average of 27 and 31 jumps, respectively. In addition, moving on sand increases energy cost compared to moving on the solid ground [5].…”

Effects of Tested Rules on Work-Rest Time in Volleyball

“…The 12 teams, divided into 2 groups of 6, played according to the round-robin system to determine the ranking and were classified from 1st to 6th. Palao, Valadés, and Ortega (2012) studied the variables of match duration, total rallies per set and match, number of sets, team that won the set and the match, and type of match, established through the point difference between teams and gender. Häyrinen et al (2011) analysed the duration of rallies, sets (no 5th sets), and breaks between rallies (no time-outs or breaks between sets).…”

“…Häyrinen et al (2011) found mean values for set duration of 26.3 ± 2.2 minutes for elite teams and 23.5 ± 2.3 minutes for U19 players, indicating a shorter set time by almost 6 minutes between U23 players and elite teams and about 3 minutes between U23 and U19 players. García-Alcaraz, Palao, and Valadés (2012) reported a duration of 24 minutes for elite Spanish teams…”

Physical actions and work-rest time in men's beach volleyball

“…The lack of reference values, or the use of inadequate ones, makes the training of beach volleyball difficult for players. Based on the review of the literature, studies that investigate the physical aspects of the game found the following reference values: 52-85 jumps per player per match, a jump is performed every 42 seconds, the average rally time lasts 8.5 s, the number of rallies per match ranges from 78 to 96, and match duration ranges from 30 to 64 minutes (Giatsis & Tzetzis, 2006;Giatsis, Zetou, & Tzetzis, 2003;Palao, Valades, & Ortega, 2012;Pérez-Turpin, Cortell, Cejuela, Chinchilla, & Suárez, 2008). However, studies that assess tactical roles of beach volleyball players seem to be nonexistent.…”