The usefulness of play-like activities in the development of some cognitive capacities, motor intelligence, and accuracy in completing the skills of receiving and crushing striking with volleyball-sitting

Abstract

Volleyball players – sitting require high-level mental and skill specifications due to the nature of the game, which involves various and changing situations. This necessitates that players continuously and quickly adapt to these situations during matches. Therefore, superiority and advancement depend on the complete coordination between the brain and body movement during physical performance. The relationship between the mental aspects and skill performance has become a point of interest for training specialists, as the development of athletes relies on the harmony between physical and mental abilities, as well as skill aspects. The aim of the research was to prepare exercises similar to gameplay to develop certain cognitive abilities and motor intelligence, as well as the accuracy of performance in the skills of reception and spiking in sitting volleyball. The study sought to identify the impact of gameplay-similar exercises on the development of cognitive abilities and motor intelligence in sitting volleyball, and to recognize the effect of such exercises on improving the performance of the reception and spiking skills in sitting volleyball. The researcher hypothesized that there is a positive effect of gameplay-similar exercises on the development of certain cognitive abilities and motor intelligence in sitting volleyball, and that there is a positive effect of gameplay-similar exercises on improving the performance of the reception and spiking skills in sitting volleyball. The researcher employed an experimental method using a single-group design. The research population consisted of sitting volleyball players from the Babel Paralympic Committee for the 2023 season, totaling 12 players representing the entire research sample, which indicates a comprehensive sampling method. Before implementing the curriculum, the researcher conducted pre-tests and extracted the scientific coefficients for the tests (cognitive abilities and motor intelligence) and skill tests. Subsequently, exercises similar to play (18) were implemented within the main section of the training units. After that, post-tests were conducted, and the data were statistically analyzed to identify differences. The researcher concluded that exercises similar to play have a positive effect on developing cognitive abilities and motor intelligence in sitting volleyball. It was also concluded that they have significant effectiveness in improving the accuracy of performance for the skills of reception and spike in sitting volleyball. The recommendations include preparing exercises similar to play for developing cognitive abilities and motor intelligence for all team sports, as well as for all offensive and defensive skills across all categories.