Work

Effects of Rule Modifications on the Quality and Manner of Technical Skill Execution in Youth Volleyball

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The aim was to assess the effect of changes in both the net height and the court size, as well as serve limitations on the manner of execution of the technical-tactical actions in youth volleyball. A total of 29 female under-14 volleyball players from three regional club teams participated in the study. A quasi-experimental design was applied. The independent variables included: (a) Tournament following the standard rules, (b) Experimental Tournament 1 (lowering of the net height from 2.10 m to 2 m, no jump serves, and a two serve per-player and -rotation maximum), and (c) Experimental Tournament 2 (lowering of net height from 2.10 m to 2 m, reduced court size from 9 × 9 m to 8 × 8 m, no jump serves, and a two serve per-player and -rotation maximum). Experimental Tournament 1 involved reductions in ball control, duration of the game phases, the occurrence of actions, and their efficacy. Experimental Tournament 2 involved increases in ball control, the duration of the game phase, the occurrence and variability of actions, and their efficacy. Lowering the net height and reducing the court size while adapting the serve rules (Experimental Tournament 2) resulted in situations that were better adapted to this population.

Source: Sports

DOI: 10.3390/sports14040132

Authors: José M. Palao, Ruth Alvarado-Ruano, Jesús Salado, Enrique Ortega-Toro

Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Universidad de Murcia

Language: English

Topic: Sports Performance and Training

Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172

Funder: Agencia Estatal de Investigación