Brazilian high-level men’s volleyball: characterization of the attack performed by the opposite player

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize and differentiate the predictive factors of the attacks performed by the opposite player from positions 1 and 2. The sample consisted of the observation of 142 volleyball games of the season 2014-2015 of Brazilian Men's Super-League, totaling 8010 actions of reception, setting and attack, where 5965 actions from position 2 and 2045 from position 1 occurred. The analysis of the predictive factors of the attack of the opposite player, according to the position of the attack, showed the attacks from position 2 are more likely to occur after reception B (OR: 1,317), in diagonal (OR: 1.302) or in parallel (OR: 1,548) and to result in blocking of the attack (OR: 1.496). On the other hand, attacks performed from position 1 are more likely to occur after receiving A (OR: 0.458) resulting in a point (OR: 0.709). Thus, situational constraints influenced the predictive factors of the opposite player's attack, according to the attacking position.