The use of timeouts in volleyball, depending on the team score

Abstract

In the management of team sport competition, timeouts are one of the main tools of the coach to stop the game. It could be used on changing trends or the rhythm of the game, and also on providing relevant information to the players. So, it may have an important effect in sporting success. The main objective of the research was to analyse the use of timeouts (TO) in U-19 male volleyball teams, as well as the effect of the game on then, depending on the match score (winning-balanced, or losing). 171 timeouts, requested by coaches of the 21 teams participating in the U-19 male Spanish Championship 2012, were analysed. The variables considered in this study were: match score (TO requested when winning-balanced score or when losing); score difference (0-1 points, 2-3 points, 4 or more points); lost rallies (0-1 rallies, 2 rallies, ≥ 3 rallies); game period (initial moment of the set, final moment of the set); timeout effect (positive timeout effect and time out with no effect). The results showed that variables significantly associated with the TO request with different score (winning-balanced, losing) were: score difference, game period and timeout effect. Specifically, contributed positively to the association: TO request with winning-balanced score with the score difference of 0-1 points, with the final moments of the set and with the positive timeout effect; TO request with a losing score with the score difference of 4 or more points, in the initial moments of the set and with no effect of the timeout. This results could be taken into account in the process of team management in competition, in volleyball formative stages.