Abstract

The aim was to assess an educational program about game statistics and a goal setting intervention in a community college women’s volleyball team. The sample consisted of 12 players from a Midwestern community college women’s volleyball team. A quasiexperimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and re-test was done. The dependent variable was the players’ perception and use of the game statistics. The independent variable was the educational program about game statistics and goal setting. The coaches’ and players’ perception, level of satisfaction, and completion of the task during the sessions were recorded. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the results (t-test for evidence of relationship) was done. After the educational training, the players’ perceptions of their ability to understand, analyse, and use information about game statistics and do goal setting in practice and in competition increased significantly. The players used the information significantly more in their practice for all the game actions. Players believed that the abilities they learned helped to improve their performance and the way they practiced. The players believed that the intervention was useful, that it helped them to focus in practice, and that it helped them to focus on technique and the quality of the actions, as well as to better monitor their progress. The educational program was effective with regard to increasing players’ perception and understanding about statistics and in the use of statistics and goal setting in practice for monitoring the quality of their actions and their progress.

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