Tracking External Training Loads in Volleyball in Terms of Player Positions

The objective of this study is to define the loads in elite woman volleyball players in terms of player positions by following-up the external training loads using Local Positioning System. A total of 14 players (age = 26.57 ± 4.01) from the Vakıfbank women's volleyball team in the Vestel Venus Sultans League who were playing in the libero (2), setter (2), middle blocker (4), outside hitter (4) and opposite (2) positions participated in the study voluntarily. Permission was granted by the Gazi University Ethics Committee (date: 16.02.2021 number: 03) to conduct the study. The external training loads of the participants (Total time, Total distance, High metabolic Load distance, Accelerations and Decelerations) were determined in 27 trainings sessions during the competition period by Kinexon Player Tracking system which was 3D and could measure with less than 10 cm error margin. Descriptive information was used to determine the external training loads of the players in terms of positions. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that, in terms of High metabolic load distance variable, the highest training loads were on the athletes playing in the outside hitter and opposite positions , in terms of Total distance variable, on those playing in the outside hitter and opposite positions , in terms of Total time variable, on those playing in the outside hitter, setter and opposite positions, in terms of accelerations variable, on those playing in the opposite position  and in terms of decelerations variable, on the athletes playing in the opposite, setter and middle blocker positions. Consequently, it was determined that external training loads of the volleyball players differed in terms of player positions. It can be stated that especially front zone players are exposed to more training loads in volleyball. It is believed that knowing that external training loads differs according to player positions can provide trainers with the opportunity to develop a training periodization according to player positions. In volleyball, it can be suggested that the trainers apply different loads according to the positions of the players in training.

Keywords

Volleyball, Training, Training load, Training load tracking, GPS