Landing Technique as a Determinant of Smash Success in Volleyball

Abstract

Study purpose. This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a structured training program that was designed to improve volleyball landing techniques and their effect on smash performance. The program was focused on main elements such as single-leg and double-leg landings, together with correct body rotation during the landing phase.

Materials and methods. A randomized pretest–posttest control group design was used in this study, and 80 male and female U-18 volleyball athletes aged 16–18 years were involved. All eligible athletes who met the inclusion criteria were taken by a total sampling approach. The participants were then randomly placed into experimental and control groups (40 athletes each) after the pre-intervention test. A landing technique training program was given to the experimental group for 12 sessions (4 weeks × 3 sessions per week), while standard training was continued by the control group. After the intervention, a post-intervention test was given to both groups so that changes in performance could be measured.

Results. A greater improvement in landing technique performance from pre-test to post-test was shown by the experimental group (37.25 ± 2.62 to 63.30 ± 2.59) than by the control group (39.20 ± 2.76 to 47.55 ± 2.71). After the pre-test scores were controlled, a significant group effect on post-test scores was shown by ANCOVA, F (1,77) = 4292.30, p < .001, partial eta squared = .982. The adjusted mean difference between the groups was 17.49, 95% CI [16.96, 18.03]. A very large between-group difference was also shown by the supplementary post-test comparison, t (78) = 26.57, p < .001, Cohen’s d = 5.94.

Conclusions. The structured landing training program was effective in improving landing technique performance among U-18 volleyball athletes. Safer landing mechanics were promoted through single-leg, double-leg, and rotational landing drills, so injury-prevention-oriented training may be supported by the program. However, injury outcomes should be examined directly by future studies so that its preventive effects can be confirmed.