The middle blocker in volleyball: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2019.141.03Keywords:
Team sports, Playing position, Player role, Player functionAbstract
The objectives of this systematic review were to verify the existing scientific literature published in electronic databases about middle players in volleyball, and to describe a profile middle players should fulfill in order to achieve the highest possible level. The PRISMA protocol was followed. A search of the literature was carried out in electronic databases (ISI Web of Science™, Scopus and SPORTDiscus). Of the 1266 initial results, 41 articles were selected, comprised between 2003 and 2016. The main topics studied about middle blockers are: match analysis, technique, physical effort, muscle strength, injuries, body measures and mental skills. Overall, middle blockers tend to be the tallest and heaviest players with an ectomorph somatotype, and present the largest reach when jumping. Blocking and attacking (i.e. first tempo attack) are their main functions, thus they should dominate them. They present a higher risk of injury, particularly in their knees and fingers. Mentally, they seem to show less toughness and resiliency than other playing positions.Funding
Spanish Education, Science and Sport MinistryDownloads
References
Aagaard, P., Simonsen, E. B., Magnusson, S. P., Larsson, B., & Dyhre-Poulsen, P. (1998). A new concept for isokinetic hamstring: quadriceps muscle strength ratio. Am J Sport Med, 26(2), 231-237. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465980260021201
Afonso, J., Esteves, F., Araujo, R., Thomas, L., & Mesquita, I. (2012). Tactical determinants of setting zone in elite men's volleyball. J Sport Sci Med, 11(1), 64-70.
Afonso, J., Mesquita, I., Marcelino, R., & Da Silva, J. A. (2010). Analysis of the setter's tactical action in high-performance women's volleyball. Kinesiology, 42(1), 82-89.
Agostini, V., Chiaramello, E., Canavese, L., Bredariol, C., & Knaflitz, M. (2013). Postural sway in volleyball players. Hum Movement Sci, 32(3), 445-456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2013.01.002
Araújo, R., Castro, J., Marcelino, R., & Mesquita, I. (2010). Relationship between the Opponent Block and the Hitter in Elite Male Volleyball. Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, 6(4), 1216-1216. https://doi.org/10.2202/1559-0410.1216
Asterios, P., Kostantinos, C., Athanasios, M., & Dimitrios, K. (2009). Comparison of technical skills effectiveness of men's National Volleyball teams. Int J Perf Anal Spor, 9(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2009.11868460
Augustsson, S. R., Augustsson, J., Thomee, R., & Svantesson, U. (2006). Injuries and preventive actions in elite Swedish volleyball. Scand J Med Sci Spor, 16(6), 433-440. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00517.x
Bahr, M. A., & Bahr, R. (2014). Jump frequency may contribute to risk of jumper's knee: a study of interindividual and sex differences in a total of 11 943 jumps video recorded during training and matches in young elite volleyball players. Brit J Sport Med, 48(17), 1322-1326. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-093593
Beneka, A., Malliou, P., Gioftsidou, A., Tsigganos, G., Zetou, H., & Godolias, G. (2009). Injury incidence rate, severity and diagnosis in male volleyball players. Sport Sciences for Health, 5(3), 93-99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-009-0083-9
Beneka, A., Malliou, P., Tsigganos, G., Gioftsidou, A., Michalopoulou, M., Germanou, E., & Godolias, G. (2007). A prospective study of injury incidence among elite and local division volleyball players in Greece. J Back Musculoskelet, 20(2-3), 115-121. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-2007-202-309
Beniscelli, V., & Torregrosa, M. (2010). Componentes del esfuerzo percibido en fútbol de iniciación. Cuadernos de psicología del deporte, 10(1), 7-21.
Bere, T., Kruczynski, J., Veintimilla, N., Hamu, Y., & Bahr, R. (2015). Injury risk is low among world-class volleyball players: 4-year data from the FIVB Injury Surveillance System. Brit J Sport Med, 49(17), 1132-U1161. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094959
Bradley, P. S., Sheldon, W., Wooster, B., Olsen, P., Boanas, P., & Krustrup, P. (2009). High-intensity running in English FA Premier League soccer matches. J Sport Sci, 27(2), 159-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410802512775
Castro, J., Souza, A., & Mesquita, I. (2011). Attack efficacy in volleyball:Elite male teams. Percept Motor Skill, 113(2), 395-408. https://doi.org/10.2466/05.25.PMS.113.5.395-408
Ciccarone, G., Croisier, L., Fontani, G., Martelli, G., Albert, A., Zhang, L., & Cloes, M. (2008). Comparison between player specialization, anthropometric characteristics and jumping ability in top-level volleyball players. Med Sport, 61(1), 29-43.
Cies̈la, E., Dutkiewicz, R., Mgłosiek, M., Nowak-Starz, G., Markowska, M., Jasiński, P., & Dudek, J. (2015). Sports injuries in Plus League volleyball players. J Sport Med Phys Fit, 55(6), 628-638.
Ciuffarella, A., Russo, L., Masedu, F., Valenti, M., Izzo, R. E., & De Angelis, M. (2013). Notational Analysis of the Volleyball Serve. Timisoara Physical Education & Rehabilitation Journal, 6(11), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.2478/tperj-2013-0013
Costa, G.C.T., Ceccato, J.S., Evangelista, B.F.B., Freire, A.B., de Oliveira, A.S., Milistetd, M., Rodrigues, H.A., & Ugrinowitsch, H. (2016). Tactic determinants of game practiced by middle attacker in men's volleyball. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, 18(3), 371-379. https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n3p371
Duncan, M. J., Woodfield, L., & Al-Nakeeb, Y. (2006). Anthropometric and physiological characteristics of junior elite volleyball players. Brit J Sport Med, 40(7), 649-651. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.021998
Fattahi, A., Ameli, M. S., & Sadeghi, H. (2013). Relationship between anthropometric parameters with vertical jump in male elite volleyball players due to game's position. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, 13(8), 1016-1023. https://10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.13.8.3712
Fellingham, G. W., Hinkle, L. J., & Hunter, I. (2013). Importance of attack speed in volleyball. Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, 9(1), 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1515/jqas-2012-0049
Gonzalez-Silva, J., Dominguez, A. M., Fernandez-Echeverria, C., Rabaz, F. C., & Arroyo, M. P. M. (2016). Analysis of Setting Efficacy in Young Male and Female Volleyball Players. J Hum Kinet, 53(1), 189-200. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2016-0022
González, C., Ureña, A., Llop, F., García, J. M., Martín, A., & Navarro, F. (2005). Physiological characteristics of libero and central volleyball players. Biol Sport, 22(1), 13-27.
González, Y., Sedano, S., Fernández, J., & Díaz, H. (2014). Estudio comparativo de factores antropométricos y de condición física en jugadores jóvenes de voleibol colombiano. [Comparative study on anthropometric factors and physical condition in young Colombian volleyball players]. Revista U.D.C.A Actualidad & Divulgación Científica, 17(1), 53-63.
Gradinaru, S., Gradinaru, S., & Merghes, P. E. (2014). Considerations on the constitutional type of the central hitter in volleyball. Timisoara Physical Education & Rehabilitation Journal, 7(13), 27-31.
Hadzic, V., Sattler, T., Markovic, G., Veselko, M., & Dervisevic, E. (2010). The isokinetic strength profile of quadriceps and hamstrings in elite volleyball players. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 18(1), 31-37. https://10.3233/ies-2010-0365
Hadzic, V., Sattler, T., Veselko, M., Markovic, G., & Dervisevic, E. (2014). Strength Asymmetry of the Shoulders in Elite Volleyball Players. J Athl Training, 49(3), 338-344. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-49.2.05
Häyrinen, M., Hoivala, T., & Blomqvist, M. (2004). Differences between winning and losing teams in men's European top-level volleyball. Paper presented at the Proceedings of VI Conference Performance Analysis.
Janssen, I., Steele, J. R., Munro, B. J., & Brown, N. A. T. (2013). Predicting the patellar tendon force generated when landing from a jump. Med Sci Sport Exer, 45(5), 927-934. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31827f0314
Li, J., & Kang, H. (2015). Status quo of the will of Chinese professional volleyball players. Open Cybernetics and Systemics Journal, 9(1), 1189-1194. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874110X01509011189
Lian, Ø., Refsnes, P. E., Engebretsen, L., & Bahr, R. (2003). Performance characteristics of volleyball players with patellar tendinopathy. Am J Sport Med, 31(3), 408-413. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465030310031401
Lobietti, R., Coleman, S., Pizzichillo, E., & Merni, F. (2010). Landing techniques in volleyball. J Sport Sci, 28(13), 1469-1476. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.514278
Lobietti, R., & Merni, F. (2006). Blocking footwork techniques used by male and female volleyball players are different. J Hum Movement Stud, 51(5), 307-320.
Marcelino, R., Afonso, J., Moraes, J. C., & Mesquita, I. (2014). Determinants of attack players in high-level men's volleyball. Kinesiology, 46(2), 234-241.
Marques, M. C., Van Den Tillaar, R., Gabbett, T. J., Reis, V. M., & González-Badillo, J. J. (2009). Physical fitness qualities of professional volleyball players: Determination of positional differences. J Strength Cond Res, 23(4), 1106-1111. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31819b78c4
Milavić, B., Jurko, D., & Grgantov, Z. (2013). Relations of Competitive State Anxiety and efficacy of young volleyball players. Collegium Antropol, 37(SUPPL.2), 83-92.
Millan-Sanchez, A., Morante Rabago, J. C., Álvarez Hernandez, M., Femia Marzo, P., & Urena, A. (2015). Participation in terminal actions according to the role of the player and his location on the court in top-level men's volleyball. Int J Perf Anal Spor, 15(2), 608-619. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2015.11868818
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Plos Med, 6(7), e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Mostafa, C., & Mansour, S. (2016). Assessing and comparing players positions mental skills of Iran men's national junior Volleyball team. IIOAB Journal, 7, 34-39.
Mroczek, D., Januszkiewicz, A., Kawczyński, A. S., Borysiuk, Z., & Chmura, J. (2014). Analysis of male volleyball players' motor activities during a top level match. J Strength Cond Res, 28(8), 2297-2305. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000425
Notarnicola, A., Fischetti, F., Gallone, D., Moretti, L., Pignataro, P., Tafuri, S., & Moretti, B. (2012). Overload and neovascularization of shoulder tendons in volleyball players. BMC Research Notes, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-397
Palao, J. M., Manzanares, P., & Valadés, D. (2014). Anthropometric, physical, and age differences by the player position and the performance level in volleyball. J Hum Kinet, 44(1), 223-236. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2014-0128
Póvoas, S. (2009). Estudo do Jogo e do Jogador de Andebol de Elite. Dissertaçao de Doutoramento. Universidade do Porto.
Rodríguez-Ruiz, D., Diez-Vega, I., Rodríguez-Matoso, D., Fernandez-Del-Valle, M., Sagastume, R., & Molina, J. J. (2014). Analysis of the response speed of musculature of the knee in professional male and female volleyball players. Biomed Res Int, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/239708
Sánchez-Moreno, J., Afonso, J., Mesquita, I., & Ureña, A. (2016). Dynamics between playing activities and rest time in high-level men's volleyball. Int J Perf Anal Spor, 16(1), 317-331. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2016.11868889
Sapena Peiro, M. I., Parra, M., Leon, J., Fradua, L., Benitez, J. M., & Urena, A. (2016). Relationship between middle hitter and setter's position and its influence on the attack zone in elite men's volleyball. Int J Perf Anal Spor, 16(2), 523-538. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2016.11868906
Sattler, T., Hadžic, V., Derviševic, E., & Markovic, G. (2015). Vertical jump performance of professional male and female volleyball players: Effects of playing position and competition level. J Strength Cond Res, 29(6), 1486-1493. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000781
Sattler, T., Sekulic, D., Hadzic, V., Uljevic, O., & Dervisevic, E. (2012). Vertical jumping tests in volleyball: Reliability, validity, and playing-position specifics. J Strength Cond Res, 26(6), 1532-1538. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318234e838
Selinger, A., & Ackermann-Blount, J. (1986). Arie Selinger's power volleyball: St. Martin's Press.
Sheppard, J. M., Gabbett, T. J., & Stanganelli, L. C. R. (2009). An analysis of playing positions in elite men's volleyball: Considerations for competition demands and physiologic characteristics. J Strength Cond Res, 23(6), 1858-1866. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b45c6a
Sterkowicz-Przybycien, K., Sterkowicz, S., & Zak, S. (2014). Sport skill level and gender with relation to age, physical development and special fitness of the participants of Olympic volleyball tournament Beijing 2008. Collegium Antropol, 38(2), 511-516.
Toledo Fonseca, C. L., Fernandes, P. R., & Filho, J. F. (2010). Analysis of anthropometrical profile of Brazilian junior volleyball team. Int J Morphol, 28(4), 1035-1041. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022010000400009
van der Worp, H., van Ark, M., Zwerver, J., & van den Akker-Scheek, I. (2012). Risk factors for patellar tendinopathy in basketball and volleyball players: a cross-sectional study. Scand J Med Sci Spor, 22(6), 783-790. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01308.x
Vilamitjana, J. J., Soler, D., Barrial, J. M., De Oca, M. M., Rodriguez, F., & Del Grecco, P. (2008). Jumping Profile of Elite Volleyball Male Players by Field Positions during a Competitive Season. Med Sci Sport Exer, 40(5), S383-S383. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000322635.00958.95
Downloads
Statistics
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2019 Journal of Human Sport and Exercise
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Each author warrants that his or her submission to the Work is original and that he or she has full power to enter into this agreement. Neither this Work nor a similar work has been published elsewhere in any language nor shall be submitted for publication elsewhere while under consideration by JHSE. Each author also accepts that the JHSE will not be held legally responsible for any claims of compensation.
Authors wishing to include figures or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright holder(s) and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.
Please include at the end of the acknowledgements a declaration that the experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed. The editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts that do not comply with the abovementioned requirements. The author(s) will be held responsible for false statements or failure to fulfill the above-mentioned requirements.
This title is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
You are free to share, copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
Transfer of Copyright
In consideration of JHSE’s publication of the Work, the authors hereby transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership worldwide, in all languages, and in all forms of media now or hereafter known, including electronic media such as CD-ROM, Internet, and Intranet, to JHSE. If JHSE should decide for any reason not to publish an author’s submission to the Work, JHSE shall give prompt notice of its decision to the corresponding author, this agreement shall terminate, and neither the author nor JHSE shall be under any further liability or obligation.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article, except as disclosed on a separate attachment. All funding sources supporting the Work and all institutional or corporate affiliations of the authors are acknowledged in a footnote in the Work.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the protocol for any investigation involving humans or animals and that all experimentation was conducted in conformity with ethical and humane principles of research.
Competing Interests
Biomedical journals typically require authors and reviewers to declare if they have any competing interests with regard to their research.
JHSE require authors to agree to Copyright Notice as part of the submission process.
