Rally length and rest time in women's volleyball

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate rally length and rest time according to the intensity of the match and sets, set periods, and match results (winer-loser) in women's volleyball. 226 sets and 9,285 rallies and rest times sampled from 58 matches played in the highest-level Turkish Women's Volleyball League were analyzed in this study. Mean values for rally length and rest time was found as 6.88 +/- 5.94 s and 28.92 +/- 18.21 s, respectively, and W:R ratio was 1:4.20. Classified as short, medium, and long, the distribution of rally length clusters were 24.7%, 59.3%, and 16.1%, and rest time distribution was 77.2%, 10.7%, and 12.1%, respectively. Rally length according to the intensity of the match and sets, set numbers and set periods was similar (p>0.05), while rest time was found to be extended as the intensity of the match and sets, the number of sets, and set periods increased (p<0.05). Rally length was also observed to be similar in winner teams (<(x)over bar>=6.96s;SD=6.07s;Med=5.22s) and losers ((x) over bar =6.79s;SD=5.78s;Med=5.23s) (p>0.05), while rest time clusters were longer in winner teams ((x) over bar =30.36s; SD=19.80s; Med=22.18s) when compared to losers ((x) over bar =27.15s; SD=15.88s; Med=21.74s) (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that only rest time values varied in different variables of the match; that rest time was more decisive on work-to-rest ratios in women's volleyball than was rally length; and that rest time clusters were longer in winners than in losers. These findings were recommended to be exploited in planning training programs for competitions in women's volleyball.