A testing protocol for conducting biomechanical underhand serve-reception evaluation in volleyball in match-like conditions is presented. A launcher sends a ball over the net toward the reception zone for the player to pass it to the setter; the ball is tracked with video cameras and the player`s articular information is captured by inertial sensors, force plates, and video cameras. Test-retest reliability and, known-groups and concurrent validity of the test are evaluated. Left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder angles were highly reliable (ICC > 0.88), with low standard errors of measurement (%SEM < 13.07). Resultant normalized ground reaction forces were also reliable (ICC: 0.76, %SEM: 9.14). Professional and amateur athletes` comparisons were statistically significant and non-trivial (p < 0.05, Cohen`s d > 0.49), with professionals` body movements presenting small variance and symmetry between left and right limb variables, and amateurs` presenting higher variance and greater asymmetry. Finally, each athlete`s left limb angles were compared against their corresponding sagittal Kinovea measurements for concurrent validity, obtaining acceptable correlation scores for amateur athletes (PCC > 0.79) and good correlation scores (PCC > 0.83) for professional athletes. The test offers a reliable and valid method for evaluating underhand serve-reception biomechanics in volleyball players.
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