Expert Performance in Action Anticipation: Visual Search Behavior in Volleyball Spiking Defense from Different Viewing Perspectives

Abstract

Volleyball spiking requires defenders to possess exceptional anticipatory skills. However, most volleyball defense video eye-tracking studies have used fixed or off-court perspectives, failing to replicate real-world environments. This study explored different visual search behaviors between elite and novice volleyball players from various viewing perspectives using video eye tracking. We examined spiking anticipation in 14 competitive elite, 13 semi-elite, and 11 novice players. We captured spiking videos from three on-court perspectives using GoPro cameras mounted on the defenders' heads, closely replicating real game scenarios. For comparison, we recorded baseline videos using a fixed camera. The present study revealed that competitive and semi-elite players demonstrated higher accuracy than novices. Competitive elite players used fewer fixations, indicating that their superior performance was related to stable visual search patterns. All participant groups, regardless of skill level, showed similar visual allocation among areas of interest (AOIs). However, notable differences in visual search patterns and AOI allocation were observed between baseline and on-court perspective videos. From the baseline perspective, the participants primarily utilized global perception and peripheral vision, focusing more on the setter zone or the spiker's trunk. Conversely, from the on-court perspective, they employed more fixations, focusing more intensely on the spiker's detailed movements.

Keywords: defense; expert; eye tracking; spike; visual search behavior; volleyball.

Figure 1

Video recording process. Notes: The figure depicts each spiking video shoot. The left side provides explanations corresponding to the figure legend.

Figure 2

Experimental design and procedure for each section.

Figure 3

Three landing locations of the ball when the Zone 4 spiker spiked. Notes: Three areas for participants to predict where the ball would land (Key 1 = A; Key 2 = B; Key 3 = C).

Figure 4

Different areas of interest. Notes: Areas of interest in the pre-spike stage (left). From left to right: blue, Zone 2 spiker; green, setter; red, Zone 3 spiker; yellow, Zone 4 spiker. Areas of interest in the spiking stage (right).

Figure 5

Response accuracy rates by group and perspective. Notes: The p-value above the solid line indicates the significance of the difference between groups; the p-value above the red dashed line indicates the significance of the difference between viewing perspectives.

Figure 6

Number of fixations by group and perspective. Notes: the p-value above the solid line indicates the significance of the difference between groups; the p-value above the dashed line indicates the significance of the difference between viewing perspectives.

Figure 7

Areas of interest among perspectives (pre-spiking). Note: the p-value above the solid line indicates the significance of the difference between viewing perspectives.

Figure 8

Areas of interest among perspectives (spiking). Note: the p-value above the solid line indicates the significance of the difference between viewing perspectives.