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Golden
Formula test event
 DOHA
– Starting from June 24 till July 3, the
world's volleyball fraternity will turn its
attention to Doha as it embarks on the
'Golden Formula' experiment.
Designed by Hussein Imam Ali who, as well as
being a former Sudanese national player, is
a member of the World Volleyball Federation
coaches' body and a technical advisor to the
Qatar Volleyball Association, the formula is
likely to revolutionise the sport if test
results are deemed successful.
The last time a significant rule change was
introduced in volleyball was in 1998 (when
the rally scoring system was implemented)
but the Golden Formula represents a bigger
alteration, designed to appeal to players,
sponsors and the game's audience alike.
The experiment comes after a growing demand
within the game to widen volleyball's appeal
and increase competitiveness between the two
teams.
Volleyball is an extremely exciting sport
with power-packed spiked serves, pulsating
smashes, blocks and acrobatic defensive
actions. However as the sport is currently
played, teams attempting counter-attacks are
at a massive disadvantage.
So what is the Golden Formula? Studies
undertaken during the world's best matches
show that when the ball is spiked by a
player from the centre line, it lands on the
other side of the court within an average of
0.33 seconds. During this period, it is
virtually impossible for an opponent to take
up a proper position and return the shot.
Research shows that players in top-class
matches take 0.44 seconds to adopt an
effective return position.
The overwhelming difficulty in returning
smashes is thought to reduce volleyball's
competitiveness by making it more
predictable. This ensures the game is less
appealing to spectators too.
The Golden Formula has been conceived to
address this problem. Although during the
first service return, a smash from the first
or second touch can still come from anywhere
on the court, a smash off the third touch
must now originate from behind the second
line. Shots from behind this three-metre
mark take an average 0.44 seconds to land;
the same period that it takes on average for
a player to return a smash. That is why the
formula has been named the Golden Formula.
After the serving side returns this first
attack, the teams are free to smash any
following shots, including the ones off the
third touch, from either side of the second
line.
The aim is to create a balance between the
speed of the spiked ball and the speed of
the movements of the defender's arms so that
an equal time is granted to the defenders to
launch a counter-attack. This will also keep
the ball in play for longer durations,
adding suspense and allowing players to
display their best technical and tactical
skills.
Data from the 2005 World League Finals
demonstrates the infrequency of rallies in
volleyball, showing that 79 percent of
service returns (or 'first attacks') are
successful.
However, just 51 percent of counter-attacks
are successful, demonstrating that if the
authorities can find a way to increase a
point's chances of making it past the first
attack, rallies will become more frequent,
scoring from the serve will be much more
common and games will take place with fewer
interruptions.
During June 25 and July 3, the QVA will
organise a four-team tournament, involving
the best teams from Qatar - Al Rayyan, Al
Arabi, Al Ahli and Qatar Sports Club. It
will record and study all the matches and
its report will be sent to the FIVB.
The same teams had recently competed in the
Heir Apparent Cup, which was held from May
25 to 29, but under existing rules. These
matches were also recorded and their details
will also be sent to the international body
for a comparative study.
Apart from volleyball, the governing bodies
of other sports have been attempting to
reduce interruptions to improve the flow of
matches. Nevertheless, most other sports
give much more equal opportunities for rival
teams to counter-attack.
The inventor of the Golden Formula, Ali,
says his formula will make the game more
interesting without bending the governing
rules and regulations too much. It will add
to the intelligence and craft that a player
will be able to express, besides making
matches more fluent and tense.
"I'm quite
hopeful that my Golden Formula will produce
more rallies and ball flying time and make
the game more exciting in terms of suspense,
techniques and tactics. It will also reduce
interruptions that prevent the game from
being fluent," Ali told reporters.
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