The Effect of the Application of the New Volleyball Regulations According to the Opinion of Coaches and Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the application of the new volleyball regulations according to the opinion of coaches and athletes. The sample comprised 37 coaches and 246 athletes of both sexes, most of which belonged to clubs of the Greek Premier Division. The answers to the questions ranged in a six-grade scale from 1=Not at all to 6=Very Much. The results showed that the coaches’ general conception of the changes effected by the new regulations was far more positive than the athletes’. The rule that brought the greatest changes to the game was the introduction of the new specialty of the “Libero” player. In particular coaches, in contrast to players, believe that the entrance of the “Libero” player has differentiated the game tactics and improved the team’s effectiveness. The “Libero” players themselves, in contrast to other players, alleged that their presence can influence the team’s cohesion and elevate them to the role of team leaders.