General trends

Global evaluation of the quality of the matches

• The percentage of the different results of the matches does not always represent the real difference in the level of performance between the teams. Peak performance in one special match decides more than once match results.
• The results of the teams of the different FIVB-zones (Europe, Norceca, Asia, South America) show that the teams of South America perform well. The results of the European teams are in general decreasing.
• There is no participation of traditional Asian top teams (Japan, South Korea).  Other teams of this FIVB-zone (India and Iran) show good development and progression in performance. 
• The use of the new volleyball rules (net fault rule, the penetration under the net, replacement of players) shows a positive impact on technical applications and the attractiveness of the matches.
• The number of spectators was varying between 100 till 3000. Especially during the matches of India there was an attractive and emotional atmosphere.
• In general during the 2009 Men’s Junior World Championship the matches have good quality and have been very attractive for the spectators.

Techniques and tactics

• The here signalized trends are mainly based on an experiment of technical analysis during the 2009 Men’s JWC by two of the FIVB technical evaluators. The name of the analysis instrument is Utilius.

· The analysis underlines the trend of (team-) characteristics, quality and improvement in all elements of the individual technical-tactical action repertoire and performance of the team.

Important aspects of this trend are:

• Optimum development of functional profiles, especially the function of the setter and blocker;
• Precision, efficiency and variety, especially in serving.
• Speed of execution, versatility and variety of technical performance in defense.
• In reception the 3-player formation against variations of the jump serve is mostly used. Some teams vary their formations.
• Quick and precise sets from nearly all the positions in the court.
• Quick approach and take-off in attack; many power shots from pos. 4 against 1-block in diagonal.
• Performance in Complex 1 and 2 are mainly determined by effective set-distribution, with high percentage attack from pos. 4 and varied by 1st tempo in the middle of the net, quick attacks behind the setter and precise timing between net and backcourt attack.
• High level of the technical-tactical individual and team performance of attack and blocking.
• The best ranked junior’s teams show a good level of performance in Complex 2. There is however much (tactical) potential for improvement in the deve-lopment of the whole action chain in this complex.

Physical aspects

• Like the trend in the senior teams the progressive increase of body height is vanishing. Coaches choose for well performed players, with a universal training background and a broad variety of technical options.
• Performance relies on synergy of features of power volleyball, based on athletics, and the application of techniques and tactics on a for Junior’s really high level. 

Professionalism and development of the teams

• In the long term planning the teams make use of different kinds of development programmes. The players of Belgium for instance have an intern development programme in one club. There is also a cohesive planning with the programmes of the other national teams (youth, seniors and under 23).
• Some interesting changes are going on in the performance of the men’s junior teams in relation to their national teams. The question is what the impact will be of the results in 2009 of men’s junior teams (for instance Russia, USA) for the future results of these national teams. A few junior teams, for instance Belgium, India and Iran, show good performance.
• More players of the teams promise potential for near future. It gives perspectives for the results of their national men’s teams.
• The delegation of the teams consists mostly of: coach, assistant-coach, doctor, physical trainer and team manager. Measure of collaborative leader-ship of head coach and/or manager has effect on the cooperation, motivation and results of the team.
• All the participating twelve teams had a coach and an assistant-coach from their own country.
• Nearly all the teams have scouts, using statistics and video analysis. Appli-cation of these instruments gives a high level in strategic-tactical performance of the most teams.

Works out of:        Koos Klein, Abe Meininger       FIVB Technical evaluators

Final redaction:     Dr. Berthold Fröhner                FIVB external consultant