So the Olympics are completed. And what a match it was. Daily of competitors it appeared like there was a basic match proper up till semi remaining day. That the final two competitors days have been an anticlimax as compared took nothing away from the general match. I don’t know the precise motive, however in some way this match moved me in a very totally different means than earlier tournaments. I’m certain the ambiance within the stadium was a part of it, there was additionally a special reference to the individuals than I bear in mind from earlier than. No matter it was, I loved it immensely.
It was fascinating to comply with the match and notice some variations within the recreation from simply three years in the past. The sensation was that the rallies have been lengthy and that every one groups at totally different factors went by intervals wherein it appeared virtually unattainable to attain. That was the impression, at the least. Fortunately I’ve some precise knowledge, and may examine a few of these emotions. Within the first publish within the collection I went over some fundamental statistics and located that each sideout proportion and assault proportion have been decrease than the earlier Olympics in Tokyo. I additionally observed that have been extra service aces with the identical error charge.
For this publish I need to dig down a bit bit to seek out out why the assault proportion is down. Right here we go…
Is assault worse as a result of offences are extra conservative (i.e. setting much less first tempo)?
Above is the match distribution from good reception. In 2024, 49% by the center of the court docket v 44% in 2021. We can not say that offences are extra conservative. First tempo was set extra usually, and with extra impact. Place 2 and 4 scored much less usually immediately however have been total efficient in scoring factors. Place 6 and 1 nonetheless have been should much less efficient.
Is assault proportion decrease due to a change within the mixture of assault tempos? (i.e. will we see much less quick balls and extra balls)
We do in reality see that there are fewer quick balls and extra excessive balls than beforehand. But additionally extra pipes, which theoretically ought to even issues up. However we will additionally notice that except for first tempo, all assault is much less efficient than on the earlier Video games. Up to now it appears we will say that block and defence are higher.
Much less quick balls and extra excessive balls suggests serving may be higher. We noticed beforehand that serving was with extra aces and similar quantity of errors. Does that imply serving was stronger total?
| 2024 | 2021 | ||
| % OF TOTAL | DIFFERENCE | % OF TOTAL | |
| PERFECT (#) | 9.3% | -3% | 12.3% |
| GOOD (+) | 33.5% | -0.2% | 33.7% |
| OK (!) | 22.7% | -0.1% | 22.9% |
| POOR (-) | 23.3% | +1.2% | 22.1% |
| OVERPASS (/) | 3.6% | = | 3.6% |
| ACE | 7.5% | +2.2% | 5.4% |
| TOTAL | 3683 | 4108 |
The general high quality of reception was certainly worse. Setter needed to work with greater than 3% fewer good passes.
If assault proportion is decrease, then there ought to be extra transition assaults, which might decrease assault proportion much more.
| ATTACK PHASE | 2024 | 2021 | ||
| RECEPTION | 3329 | 59.3% | 3704 | 61.6% |
| TRANSITION | 2216 | 40.7% | 2312 | 38.4 |
| TOTAL | 5445 | 6016 |
In spite of everything that, what’s our conclusion?
Assault proportion is decrease as a result of …
– serve is healthier
– block and defence is healthier
– decrease assault proportion results in extra transition assault
– extra transition assault lowers assault proportion
– we should always at all times set extra first tempo
When you have any particular questions in regards to the Olympics that may / could possibly be answered by analytics, by all means drop me a line.
