Differences in Game Statistics Between Winning and Losing Teams in Inter-University Elite Male Sepak Takraw Tournament: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyze and investigate the differences in male Sepak Takraw game statistics between winning and losing teams. Data were collected from the 2012 elite male inter-university Sepak Takraw tournament. Seven (7) games starting from the quarter final matches until the final match were analyzed. There were 11 performance indicators selected as the variables in this study (service in, service out, service ace, success first ball, unsuccessful first ball, successful feeding, unsuccessful feeding, success strike, unsuccessful strikes, successful blocking and unsuccessful blocking). A descriptive and non-parametric analysis (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test) were performed with the significance value set at p ≤ 0.05. The analysis showed only one (1) performance indicator to have a significant difference between the winning team and loosing team, which was service out (z = −2.47, p = 0.013, p < 0.05). The other ten (10) performance indicators did not show any significant differences between winning and loosing teams (success first ball, z = −1.23, p = 0.218, p > 0.05; unsuccessful first ball, z = −1.91, p = 0.057, p > 0.05; success feeding, z = −1.75, p = 0.79, p > 0.05; service in, z = −1.09, p = 0.274, p > 0.05; service ace, z = −1.54, p = 0.122, p > 0.05; unsuccessful feeding, z = −0.60, p = 0.549, p > 0.05; success spike, z = −0.736, p = 0.462, p > 0 .05; unsuccessful spike, z = −0.736. p = 0.462, p > 0.05; successful blocking, z = −1.44, p = 0.149, p > 0.05 and; unsuccessful blocking, z = −0.983, p = 0.325, p > 0.05). The values presented in this study are a useful reference for coaches to determine teams’ weaknesses and strengths in designing a training program, especially for higher level competitions. Coaches need to focus on the significant performance indicator during training in order to achieve success in Sepak Takraw inter-university tournaments.