Over the past few decades there has been great interest in the study of cognitive processes, and specifically decision-making, from a cognitive perspective. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the scientific literature on the effect of decision training interventions/programs, from a cognitive perspective, on the decision-making of volleyball players. The systematic search was carried out in five scientific electronic databases according to PRISMA guidelines Web of Science (WOS), Pubmed (Medline), Scopus, SportDiscus and Google Scholar. A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The main finding of the meta-analysis was that the use of decision-making training programs/interventions led to significant improvements in volleyball players’ decision-making (Standardized mean difference = 0.94 with 95% confidence interval from 0.63 to 1.25), compared to normal active volleyball training. In addition, the heterogeneity of the interventions was low (I² = 0%). From the results of the studies analyzed, we recommend using decisional interventions or training, both as part of normal active training or complementary to it, to improve the decision-making of the players, thus optimizing their ability to perceive and process relevant stimuli, and then generate quick and effective responses. These findings can be useful in the process of sports training.

In the present study, athletes from an elite female volleyball team (N = 12) experienced an intervention programme, based on the provision of information from match analyses, throughout a single season. The information provided related to individual and team competitive performances, as well as the performances of opposition teams. Our aim was to assess the study athletes’ perceptions of this intervention once the season had ended. We used a semi-structured interview method and a thematic analysis of interview content using the categorisation and coding procedures. Regarding the match analysis related to the study team, 95.65% of the comments made by the players were positive and only 4.34% was negative. Players indicated it was useful to understand the negative aspects of their game in order to correct them, and positive aspects in order to motivate weekly training. All of the comments regarding match analyses of opposition teams were positive, with one highlight being that this helped players to be informed about the oppositions’ game and to be more prepared for upcoming matches.

The study aim was to examine the associations between the category of play and the factors athletes use to make appropriate decisions. We observed 6567 game actions performed by 144 athletes. All game actions involved appropriate decisions. The study variables were factors on which appropriate decision-making is based (for five game actions in volleyball: serve, reception, setting, attack, block) and game category (Under-14, Under-16, Under-19). Our analysis—using contingency tables, the Chi-square test, and Cramer’s V—revealed a significant association between the two variables across the five actions. In the U-14 category, and sometimes in the U-16 category, it was more frequent than the expected random frequency that appropriate decisions were of low tactical complexity, focused on the performance of the skill, with an attentional focus on close elements, of low risk, and with actions of reduced difficulty and precision. For the U-19 category, it was more frequent than the expected random frequency that decisions were of greater tactical complexity, with an attentional focus on the opposing team, considering more relevant stimuli, with greater risk, and with greater time pressure. There is, therefore, a need for coaches to understand the decision-making skills of athletes from early on, as this will allow them to develop tasks and apply cognitive strategies that are adapted to the level of the athlete and that can ultimately improve decision-making further.

El objetivo de la investigación fue conocer la asociación entre la toma de decisiones y el rendimiento, de jugadores de voleibol, en las acciones finalistas e intermedias, con el resultado del set. Se analizaron 9285 acciones: 4364 acciones intermedias (1454 acciones de recepción, 1377 acciones de colocación y 1548 acciones de defensa), 4921 acciones finalistas (1533 acciones de saque, 1555 acciones de ataque y 1818 acciones de bloqueo), correspondientes a los 21 equipos participantes en el Campeonato de España Juvenil Masculino, celebrado en 2012. Se observaron dos partidos de cada uno de los equipos participantes en el Campeonato. Las variables de estudio fueron el resultado del set, la toma de decisiones y el rendimiento, en las acciones de juego intermedias y finalistas en voleibol. Los resultados mostraron asociación significativa entre el resultado del set y las variables toma de decisiones y el rendimiento en las acciones de juego, tanto en las acciones intermedias como en las acciones finalistas. Una mejor toma de decisiones por parte de los jugadores, y un mejor rendimiento en las acciones intermedias y finalistas, se asocian con la victoria del set. En el proceso de entrenamiento de jugadores de categoría juvenil sería apropiado considerar la posibilidad de empleo de actividades que contribuyan a la mejora de la capacidad decisional de los jugadores. The aim of the study was to determine the association between decision-making and performance during intermediate and terminal actions in volleyball, and set results. A total of 9,285 game actions were collected: 4,364 intermediate actions (1,454 receptions, 1,377 setting actions, and 1,548 defence actions) and 4,921 terminal actions (1,533 serves, 1,555 attacks, and 1,818 blocks), gathered from 21 teams participating in the U-19 Spanish Championship held in 2012. Two matches of each team were observed. Study variables were: set result, decision-making, and performance during intermediate and terminal game actions in volleyball. Results showed a significant association between set result and the variables decision-making and performance in both intermediate and terminal game actions. In fact, better players’ decision-making and higher players’ performance in both intermediate and terminal actions were significantly associated with winning sets. When coaching U-19 players, carrying out activities that improve players’ decision-making abilities should be highly recommended.

La Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte es una revista multidisciplinar, científico-técnica, en torno a las Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte. Todos los temas son publicables siempre que estén relacionados con la actividad física y el deporte y sea explícita esta relación en el artículo.