Jump Float Serves and Tactical Sustainability in Women’s Volleyball: A Statistical Approach with SDG Implications

Objectives: This research investigates the tactical and sustainable value of different volleyball serve techniques, with a focus on the Jump Float serve in elite women’s competition. The primary goal is to promote competitive equity, long-term athlete development, and sustainable sports practices, directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4: Quality Education. Theoretical Framework: Grounded in performance analysis and tactical theory, this study applies three integrated indicators—Serve Pressure Index (SPI), Reception Disruption Score (RDS), and Technique Efficacy Ratio (TER)—to evaluate the multidimensional impact of serve techniques beyond basic scoring. These metrics align with the principles of sustainable training, injury prevention, and equitable skill development in accordance with SDG values. Method: A notational analysis of 1,913 serves from 12 matches (44 sets) in the 2020 Thailand Women’s Volleyball League Final Four was conducted. Serve techniques were categorized into four types, and nine outcome variables were identified. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, regression models, and ANCOVA to assess the efficacy of each serve type and its association with match success. Results and Discussion: Jump Float serves comprised 47.3% of serves by winning teams and produced significantly higher ace rates (p = .036) and reception disruption (p = .027) compared to other techniques. Regression analysis confirmed Jump Float frequency as the strongest predictor of match success (β = .51, p < .001; Adjusted R² = 0.69). Moreover, Jump Float outperformed all other serve types across tactical indices (SPI = 0.42; RDS = 5.67; TER = 0.68), supporting its effectiveness as a low-impact, high-yield, and sustainable competitive tactic. Research Implications: The findings offer practical, data-informed guidance for coaches and educators to design training programs that prioritize skill quality, match performance, and athlete well-being. By emphasizing disruption over force, the study supports a more inclusive and sustainable approach to talent development in women’s sports, reinforcing the role of volleyball in achieving SDG-aligned health and education outcomes. Originality/Value: This research introduces a novel tactical framework for evaluating serve performance in elite volleyball and presents the Jump Float serve as a model of sustainable performance strategy. It advances the academic discourse on sport for sustainable development, demonstrating how performance analytics can contribute to SDG implementation through equitable, health-conscious, and education-focused coaching practices.