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Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(08): 576-583
DOI: 10.1055/a-2038-3333
Training & Testing

Predictors of Ball Velocity in the Sitting Volleyball Serve: A Causal Analysis

Valentina Cavedon 
1   Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
Marco Sandri
1   Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
Silvia Golia
2   Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
,
Chiara Brugnoli
1   Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
Filip Bolčević
3   Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
,
Carlo Zancanaro
1   Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
Chiara Milanese
1   Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Correction: Predictors of Ball Velocity in the Sitting Volleyball Serve: A Causal AnalysisInt J Sports Med 2023; 44(08): e3-e3
DOI: 10.1055/a-2131-9608

Abstract

This study explored the performance of the Sitting Volleyball serve by investigating the causal factors associated with ball velocity. Thirty-seven athletes underwent anthropometry and strength assessment and performed ten successful maximal effort serves. Ball velocity was measured using a sports radar gun. The hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist angles at the instant of ball impact as well as the height of ball impact were estimated through two-dimensional motion analysis. The causal relationships between variables were described through a linear Structural Equation Model and a Directed Acyclic Graph. Results showed that a smaller hip angle determines a greater shoulder angle, which in turn causes a greater elbow angle. A more open elbow angle together with a greater vertical reach allowed for a greater height of ball impact. Finally, increased height of ball impact along with greater abdominal strength are beneficial for higher ball velocity. These results underlined that the Sitting Volleyball serve is a multifactorial stroke involving anthropometric, technical and strength factors and suggest that athletes should improve their abdominal strength and master the technique necessary to perform the serve with the shoulder and the elbow joints fully extended in order to produce the greatest possible impact on the ball.

Key words

paralympic sport - kinematic analysis - physical impairment - structural equation model - direct acyclic graph


Publication History

Received: 26 August 2022

Accepted: 01 February 2023

Article published online:
19 May 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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