Young volleyball players undergo technology-based assessment

Young volleyball players at Trailblazers Elite Foundation underwent a technology-based assessment in Nairobi on Friday, aimed at giving coaches objective data on their physical performance.

The assessment used VALD’s SmartSpeed timing-gate system to test speed and agility through a Y-drill, which measures an athlete’s ability to change direction.

Timing-gate systems record athletes as they pass through set points, allowing coaches to collect time-based performance data.

Trailblazers physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach Kate Abilla explained what the technology measured during the session.

“The SmartGates measure the speed and agility of an athlete. We used the Y-drill, which measures agility and change of direction.”

Abilla said the data can then help coaches make more informed decisions when planning training.

The results are expected to give the coaching team a clearer picture of individual differences among the players and help determine where training needs to be adjusted.

“It’s very easy for a coach to know what plan to do with the team, and also as an athlete personally.”

Trailblazers head coach Stanley Mutua said the data provides a reference point that was difficult to establish through observation alone.

“Without technology it has been hard but with technology at least we know where to start and where to go.”

Mutua said the information could also help coaches assess attributes such as speed, strength, jumping and movement when making decisions about player development and positioning.

For Trailblazers Elite Foundation founder and CEO Leshan Julius, the youth assessment builds on the use of sports technology with the senior team since 2023. He said younger players require more individualised training because they differ in age, skill level and volleyball experience.

“Training for kids needs to be a little bit structured because we need to individualise training.”

The International Olympic Committee’s consensus on youth athlete development stresses that young athletes develop at different rates because of differences in growth and biological maturation. It recommends that testing and training be adapted to the individual athlete rather than relying on a one size fits all approach.

The assessment also gave the players an opportunity to experience performance testing at an early stage of their sporting development.

Thirteen-year-old Tanisha Naisula said the assessment was “nice and exciting” adding that she felt it helped her understand power and the drills as sixteen-year-old Basil Martin, who is relatively new to volleyball, said the session offered a new perspective on technology in sport.

“It’s really nice to see how far sports has come in general,” said Basil.

The data collected will give the coaching team a baseline against which future assessments can be compared, helping them track changes in the athletes’ performance over time.