Studies on small-sided games (SSG) in team sports have increased in recent decades. However, the literature concerning this training strategy in volleyball is sparse. This study aims to summarize and analyse the scientific evidence on SSG in volleyball. For this purpose, electronic searches were...

Athletes born closer to an arbitrary cut-off date are more likely to reach an elite level in sport, which is supported by a phenomenon called the relative age effect (RAE). It is important to determine whether this phenomenon is present in a sport to minimize this selection bias. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RAE in elite volleyball athletes, considering the influence of gender, the playing position (Setter, Middle, Libero, Opposite, and Outside Hitter) and the performance level (attack points, aces, and block points). The sample comprised 203 male and 193 female athletes competing in the Superliga A in the 2020/2021 season, which was equivalent to all of the teams of the championship. The data collection was performed during May and June, 2021. Athletes were organized according to gender, the playing position, and performance in the Superliga. For performance variables, athletes were separated based on the median value (90.0), and classified as high- or low-performance. Chi-squared tests were performed to verify differences between birth date distributions in relation to the aforementioned variables. Results indicated overrepresentation of relatively older male athletes (Q1 = 35.96%; Q2 = 27.59%; Q3 = 19.21%; Q4 = 17.24%), especially in Middles, Opposites, and Outside Hitters, regardless of their performance level. Considering females, no differences were found. Our findings suggest that RAE operates differently for men and women in elite Brazilian volleyball. The characteristics of the games played by male and female elite athletes may lead to different talent selection processes, affecting the likelihood of RAE prevalence.

The ability to design Small-sided games (SSGs) by manipulating the game allows coaches to align the games with players' specific needs, thereby fostering adaptations in their behavior as they engage with the challenges presented in the drills. Given the increasing volume of original research on SSGs in basketball, this systematic review aims to synthesize acute technical and tactical responses observed in players of both genders, irrespective of their competitive level. A systematic review was performed based on PRISMA recommendations in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science database. The eligibility criteria included basketball players who had participated in SSGs, without the necessity for a comparator group. Outcomes focused on observed and recorded technical actions (such as passes and shots) and/or tactical behaviors (individual or collective). Data synthesis comprised compiling the observed technical and tactical outcomes, along with the main findings of the studies. An initial database search returned 1,758 studies. After the study selection process, 41 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, comprising 922 participants of both sexes that ranged from beginners to professional players. The analyzed SSGs ranged from 1 vs. 1 to 5 vs. 5 game formats. Findings suggested that SSGs with fewer players demonstrated positive effects on technical performance and increased action frequency, while also fostering tactical behavior and decision-making. Moreover, research indicated that SSGs incorporating restrictions on dribbling actions led to a higher occurrence of passing actions. Keywords: basketball training; sports pedagogy; conditioned games; small-sided games; technical performance; tactical behavior.

Volleyball is a popular sport in Brazil, and the relative age effect (RAE) is known to occur within it; but less is known of how RAE relates to elite Brazilian volleyball players’ age, sex, and competitive levels. We aimed to investigate RAE prevalence with data from two seasons of play among players in the Superliga A (2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons), and Superliga B (2021 and 2022 seasons) made available from the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV), the club’s official website, or direct consultation with the CBV. After removing duplicate data, we grouped these 1,063 athletes by their dates of birth, sex, and competition level (Superliga A or B). We divided players’ birth dates into quarters (Q1: January-March, Q2: April-June, Q3: July-September and Q4: October-December) and into semesters, and we performed chi-square (χ²) tests to investigate RAE prevalence according to the players’ sex and competitive level. RAE was prevalent overall (χ² = 33.198; p < .001), among males (χ² = 24.48; p < .001) and females (χ² = 11.23; p < .011). Regarding competition level, RAE was evident among males in both Superliga A (χ² = 14.581; p = 0.002), and B (χ² = 13.985; p = 0.003), and among females in Superliga B (χ² = 9.204; p = 0.027), but not Superliga A (χ² = 4.012; p = 0.26). Thus, the RAE phenomenon operated differently for male and female Brazilian volleyball players according to their competitive level. We discuss the implications of these findings.

The stereotyped sequence of volleyball actions allows organising them into six game complexes (K), each with specific dynamics. The purpose of this study was to verify the game flow in high-level women's volleyball through the sequencing of game complexes, their relative importance within the game and their relationship to attack efficacy. Seven matches of the Women's Brazil Cup’2020, knockout competition played by the 8 best teams of the 2019/2020 Superliga, were analysed (31 sets, 1268 rallies). The matches were obtained through the online video platform www.youtube.com . Pearson's chi-squared test (^χ2) with Monte Carlo correction was used to assess the association between the variables, and Social Network Analysis with Eigenvector Centrality for the understanding of the nodes interactions their relative importance in a global context. The highest frequencies occurred for K0 (28.75%), KI (25.54%), and KII (23.39%), followed by KIII (15.60%), KV (3.73%), and KIV (2.99%). Positive associations occurred between KI and error; K0 and first KIV and continuity; and between KI, KII, first KIII, second KIII, first KV or second KV and point. The highest Eigenvector Centrality values occurred in first KVE1 and first KIVE1, and the lowest in K0E0, K0E2 and seventh KIIIE0. The results showed that the game complexes unfold in sequences with different frequencies; the sequences K0E1-KIE2, K0E1-KIE1-KIIE2; K0E1-KIE0 and K0E1-KIE1-KIIE1-KIII(1)E2 are the most frequent, which is informative for approximating the regularities of the training sessions to those of the matches.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the within-week differences in external training intensity in different microcycles considering different playing positions in women elite volleyball players. Methods: The training and match data were collected during the 2020–2021 season, which included 10 friendly matches, 41 league matches and 11 champions league matches. The players’ position, training/match duration, training/match load, local positioning system (LPS) total distance, LPS jumps, accelerations, decelerations, high metabolic load distance (HMLD), acute and chronic (AC) mean and AC ratio calculated with the rolling average (RA) method and the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) method, monotony and strain values were analyzed. Results: All the variables except strain, Acc/Dec ratio and acute mean (RA) showed significant differences among distance to match days. Regarding the players’ positions, the only difference was found in the AC ratio (EWMA); in all microcycles, the middle blocker player showed workload values when compared with the left hitter, setter and libero. Conclusion: Overall, the analysis revealed that the intensity of all performance indicators, except for strain, acc/dec and acute mean load (RA), showed significant differences among distance to match day with moderate to large effect sizes. When comparing players’ positions, the middle blocker accumulated the lowest loads. There were no significant differences among other positions.