Dynamics between playing activities and rest time in high-level men's volleyball

The purpose of this study was to verify whether work-to-rest ratios in high-level sport exhibit evidence for self-regulation. Specifically, we analysed the relationship between rally length and rest times between rallies in high-level men's volleyball. Ninety-five matches from five of the premier worldwide competitions were analysed (16,436 rallies). The average of rallies per set was 45.23±6.15 (rally length: 4.99±4.35 seconds; rest time: 29.02±19.44 seconds; work-to-rest ratio 1:5.81±.17 seconds). The distribution of rally length clusters was: short 74%, medium 14.38% and long 11.62%; and rest time clusters: short 81.71%, medium 10.83% and long 7.46%. Rest time between rallies seemed to increase when the rally was longer (τ =.214; p