Marina Tsakiri1, Manolis Adamakis1, Eugenia Gortsila1, Karolina Barzouka1, Nikolaos Geladas1, Konstantinos Sotiropoulos1
1National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Construction and validation of a Beach Volleyball float service accuracy test
Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2027, 16(1), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.270305
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to develop a specialized service test for beach volleyball and to evaluate reliability and construct validity. Fifty athletes (31 females and 19 males) participated in a test-retest protocol. Service ve- locity was analyzed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA and the non-parametric Friedman test within a gender-stratified framework, while accuracy scores across four target zones (Z1 to Z4) were evaluated using the Friedman test. Relative reliability was assessed via Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s rho, while absolute reliability was quantified through the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and the Minimal De- tectable Change (MDC95). The results confirmed the protocol’s construct validity, revealing a clear hierarchical progression of spatial difficulty. Zone 4 was the most challenging, yielding the lowest accuracy, followed by Z3, while Z1 and Z2 were the easiest (p<.001). Service velocity exhibited moderate-to-good relative reliability, while gender stratification uncovered distinct absolute reliability benchmarks, with females demonstrating lower in- tra-individual variability (MDC95: .25 to .55) and learning adaptations compared to males (MDC95: .36 to .69). Paradoxically, the results did not support a traditional speed-accuracy trade-off; athletes recorded their highest mean velocity in the most difficult zone (Z4) and lowest in Z2, indicating a risk-taking behavior under high spatial constraints. In conclusion, this custom-made protocol is a valid and reliable sport-specific instrument. It effective- ly bridges the gap between research and practice, providing coaches with an objective tool to monitor technical proficiency, simulate high-pressure decision-making and accurately quantify athlete progression on the sand.
Keywords
Performance analysis, speed-accuracy relationship, target accuracy, construct validity
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