EDATS Testing Continued in Novi Sad – SK Volley Advances Injury Prevention Through Data-Driven Performance Assessment
One of the key objectives of the EDATS – European Digital Assisted Training in Team Sports project is to support athlete performance monitoring through objective measurements while contributing to more effective injury prevention. In line with this mission, another successful testing session was carried out on 27 May 2026 by one of the project’s international partners, SK Volley, in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Using the project’s low-cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor system, the coaching and research team assessed several movement patterns that are fundamental to volleyball performance. The testing protocol focused not only on measuring jumping ability but also on evaluating movement quality, landing mechanics and dynamic postural stability.
During the testing session, the young athletes performed countermovement jumps, while also simulating blocking and spiking actions that closely replicate the explosive movements regularly executed during volleyball matches. One of the most important assessments involved forward jumps followed by a single-leg landing, during which the EDATS system measured how quickly each athlete was able to regain dynamic stability after landing. This parameter provides valuable insight into neuromuscular control and may play an important role in identifying injury risk and supporting rehabilitation programmes.
One of the greatest strengths of the EDATS technology is that these assessments can be carried out directly in the training environment, without requiring expensive laboratory equipment. The objective data collected by the wearable IMU sensors enables coaches and performance specialists to monitor athletes over time, identify changes in physical condition, optimise training programmes and intervene early when potential injury risks emerge.
The testing in Novi Sad was conducted by the professional staff of SK Volley, an active partner in the international EDATS consortium. The club enjoys outstanding sporting prestige, as it is led by two Serbian volleyball legends and Olympic champions, Vasa Mijić and Andrija Gerić. Their experience at the highest level of international volleyball, combined with their continued commitment to youth player development, provides an exceptional environment for applying innovative performance-monitoring technologies in everyday coaching practice.
The testing day in Novi Sad once again demonstrated that the EDATS project is far more than a research initiative. It represents a successful international collaboration where scientific innovation is translated into practical tools that directly support coaches and athletes. Through regular monitoring across all partner organisations, the project is helping to establish a more objective, data-driven approach to athlete development, performance enhancement and injury prevention.
As the project continues, EDATS remains committed to making advanced digital sports technologies increasingly accessible to both grassroots and elite sport, strengthening the connection between scientific research and everyday coaching practice across Europe.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DY2sEeDDKWv/?img_index=7&igsh=YWJtdmllZ202aGo1
