PERFORMANCE MODEL IN SITTING VOLLEYBALL: THE RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES CASE

Abstract

Objectives. Sitting Volleyball has been a Paralympic discipline recognized by the IPC since 2004 and has been part of the FIPAV sports disciplines since 2013, under the aegis of CONI and CIP. Material and Methods. This research aims to identify the Performance Model in Sitting Volleyball and define the correlations between gestures or phases of the game and victory. The sample includes the eight male and the eight female finalists of the competition for the gold medal of Rio 2016 Olympics Games. Results. The results confirm Sitting Volleyball as an attacking sport in both the male and female sectors. Conclusions. The efficiency of the attack turns out to be correlated to the victory of single sets. In the female sector, the serve is a winning tactical weapon; the block is more consistent in the male one. Ultimately, the quality of the side-out and breakpoint phases is correlated to the victory of the single set.