Relating Content and Nature of Information When Teaching Volleyball in Youth Volleyball Training Settings

The purpose of the study was to gain a deeper insight into the instructional process in youth volleyball training. A mixed method design, combining systematic observation and interview procedures, was used to examine both the nature and the content of the information provided by coaches during the instructional process. Twenty-eight young volleyball coaches, who coached amateur teams in a club setting, players from 13 to 17 years of age, were interviewed and one of their training sessions was videotaped for systematic observation. Results of interviews showed that coaches have adopted two agendas to teaching volleyball contents: a skills agenda, following a molecular approach, which focuses on the biomechanically efficient component; and a game agenda, using modified games and competition to facilitate the integration of technical skills in game situations. However, coach behaviour profiles showed a predominant technical orientation. All the volleyball contents were targeted in the coaches’ instructions of technique. The same did not occur in the coaches’ instructions of individual tactics, and even less in team tactics. The dominance of a technical perspective suggests the need to deepen youth coaching, to help coaches to improve their competence and to change and diversify their instructional approaches.