University of Zagreb
Faculty of Kinesiology
University of Zagreb
Faculty of Kinesiology
Title: Associate professor
Tuesdays, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., by prior appointment via email
integrated undergraduate and graduate
graduate
undergraduate
The quality of teaching has been assessed through student evaluations available in the Faculty’s Teacher Portal. Across five available evaluations, an average score of 4.56 out of 5 was achieved, with individual scores ranging from 4.4 to 4.7.
The results indicate a consistently high level of student satisfaction with the quality of teaching.
Tomica Rešetar, PhD, Associate Professor, was born on 1978 in Čakovec, Croatia. He enrolled at the Faculty of Physical Culture of the University of Zagreb, now the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, in 1997 and graduated in 2003 with a specialisation in volleyball. His graduate thesis, entitled Analysis of Differences in a Volleyball Set Based on Situational Game Parameters, focused on the analysis of competitive performance in volleyball.
He completed his doctoral studies in 2011 at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, where he defended his doctoral dissertation entitled Situational Efficiency of Female Volleyball Players of Different Age Groups. In 2013, he completed an additional specialisation in strength and conditioning for athletes.
He has been employed at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology since 2004. He began his academic career as a teaching and research assistant, became a senior assistant in 2011 and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher. He was appointed Assistant Professor in 2016 and has held the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Sport Kinesiology since 2023. He is also Head of the Chair of Complex Disciplines (Sports Games).
He teaches in the Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Study Programme in Kinesiology, professional study programmes for coach education, the Postgraduate Doctoral Study Programme in Kinesiology and courses taught in English within the Erasmus+ programme. His teaching covers volleyball, beach volleyball, anthropological analysis in volleyball, volleyball training methodology, training monitoring, strength and conditioning, programming of training transformation processes and applied research in volleyball.
As part of his teaching and supervisory activities, he has supervised 12 graduate theses at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology.
The quality of his teaching has been confirmed by student evaluations and assessment results available through the Faculty’s Teacher Portal. Across five available evaluations conducted between the 2008/2009 and 2025/2026 academic years, he achieved an average score of 4.56 out of 5, with individual scores ranging from 4.4 to 4.7. These results indicate a consistently high level of student satisfaction with the quality of his teaching.
His scientific work is situated within the field of sport kinesiology, with a particular focus on volleyball and beach volleyball. He is the author and co-author of scientific and professional papers published in Croatian and international journals and conference proceedings.
His research covers situational and competitive performance analysis, the structure and dynamics of volleyball play, technical and tactical performance indicators, athletes’ morphological characteristics and body composition, somatotype, motor and functional abilities, sports diagnostics, training monitoring, the selection and development of young players, and the statistical and notational analysis of sports performance.
A particular focus of his research is placed on differences associated with age, playing position, competitive level, team status and national-team selection. His work also examines explosive power, vertical-jump ability, agility, aerobic capacity, upper-body power, spike speed, serve-reception efficiency, point-scoring structure and differences between winning and losing teams and sets.
He is a co-author of two professional volleyball manuals: Volleyball Teaching Units for Primary Schools: A Manual for Physical Education Teachers and Introduction to the Specialisation of Playing Roles in Volleyball. He is also a co-author of the peer-reviewed English-language teaching material entitled Volleyball.
In 2003, he completed professional training as a volleyball scout and performance analyst, including the use of specialised computer software, in Rome under the organisation of the European Volleyball Confederation – CEV.
He has been actively involved in volleyball coaching and professional practice since the early 2000s. He has worked as a head coach, assistant coach, volleyball scout and performance analyst, and strength and conditioning coach with male and female players across all youth age groups and at the senior level.
He gained professional experience in several Croatian volleyball clubs, including HAOK Mladost, ŽOK Azena Velika Gorica, OK Olimpik, OK Croatia and OK Nebo. His work has included coaching youth development teams, junior teams, reserve teams and senior competitive teams.
At the national-team level, he worked as assistant coach of the Croatian men’s cadet national team and as head coach of the Croatian women’s junior national team. Through these roles, he gained experience in coaching national teams of both sexes and across different age categories.
As a volleyball scout and performance analyst, he was a member of the coaching staffs of the Croatian men’s junior and senior national teams, leading Croatian volleyball clubs, the Qatar men’s senior national team and the Qatari club Al Rayyan SC.
His analytical responsibilities included monitoring and evaluating competitive performance, preparing statistical and tactical information for coaching staffs, analysing opponents and applying specialised systems for the statistical and notational analysis of volleyball performance.
He also worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the HAOK Mladost women’s teams, gaining experience in the development and monitoring of physical performance among some of Croatia’s leading female club volleyball players.
He regularly participates in Croatian and international scientific and professional conferences, where he presents topics related to volleyball, sports diagnostics, strength and conditioning and performance analysis. He has also participated as a lecturer and organiser at professional seminars for volleyball coaches.
Within the Croatian Volleyball Federation, he served as President of the Coaches Commission from 2013 to 2015 and as President of the Coaching Profession Committee from 2018 to 2021. From 2018 to 2021, he was also a member of the Federation’s Expert Council.
In these roles, he contributed to the development of the volleyball coaching profession and participated in the organisation of annual, central and regional coaching seminars featuring recognised Croatian and international volleyball experts. He also delivered professional lectures on volleyball teaching and training methodology.
Throughout his professional career, he has contributed to a range of notable sporting achievements. As a coach, he participated in the European Cadet Championship, contributed to winning Croatian junior championships in both women’s and men’s volleyball, and worked on the long-term development of players from youth categories to the senior level.
As a scout and performance analyst, he contributed to qualification for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship in Doha, winning the Emir Cup in Qatar, winning the Gulf Club Championship in Oman, qualifying the Croatian junior national team for the European Championship and winning Croatian national championships and cups.
As a strength and conditioning coach, he contributed to winning Croatian championships and cups with the HAOK Mladost women’s team.
Scientific Publications
Rešetar, T. (2026). Differences in point-scoring actions in won and lost sets in top-level men’s beach volleyball. In G. Leko (Ed.), 34th International Summer School for Kinesiologists (pp. 487–490). Zadar, Croatia: Croatian Kinesiology Association.
Rešetar, T., Čičak, A., & Borovina, H. (2026). Eksplozivna snaga gornjeg dijela tijela i brzina smeča elitnih hrvatskih odbojkašica: Razlike između smečerskih pozicija [Explosive upper-body power and spike speed in elite Croatian female volleyball players: Differences between hitting positions]. In M. Dadić, I. Jukić, L. Milanović, V. Naglić, & I. Krakan (Eds.), 24. godišnja međunarodna konferencija Kondicijska priprema sportaša 2026 (pp. 116–121). Zagreb, Croatia: Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu; Udruga kondicijskih trenera Hrvatske. [In Croatian]
Rešetar, T., Končić, P., & Jovanović, G. (2026). Usporedba i normiranje odabranih motoričkih sposobnosti kadetskih i juniorskih hrvatskih odbojkaških reprezentativki [Comparison and normative assessment of selected motor abilities in Croatian female cadet and junior national volleyball team players]. In M. Dadić, I. Jukić, L. Milanović, V. Naglić, & I. Krakan (Eds.), 24. godišnja međunarodna konferencija Kondicijska priprema sportaša 2026 (pp. 82–86). Zagreb, Croatia. [In Croatian]
Ban, M., Đurković, T., & Rešetar, T. (2025). Differences in motor skill indicators between two measurement points in the Irish women’s national volleyball team. In S. Ćurković & Ž. Jovanović (Eds.), 3rd International Scientific Conference “4 Healthy Academic Society” (pp. 154–157). Poreč, Croatia, May 28–30, 2025: University of Rijeka Faculty of Health Studies.
Trajković, N., Milić, V., Đurković, T., Rešetar, T., & Korobeynikov, G. (2024). Diurnal variations in upper- and lower-body power in adolescent volleyball players: Exploring time-of-day effects on performance. Sports, 12(12), 320.
Đurković, T., Babok, D., & Rešetar, T. (2024). Differences in game dynamics between high-level volleyball and beach volleyball matches. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9, 28.
Rešetar, T., Đurković, T., & Antekolović, L. (2024). Are the somatotype still a useful method for selection in volleyball? Analysis of the somatotype of Croatian female volleyball national teams (U16 and U18). Hrvatski športskomedicinski vjesnik, 39(1), 23–29.
Trajković, N., Pekas, D., & Rešetar, T. (2023). Effects of intensity-modified volleyball games on body composition in adolescent boys. In G. Leko (Ed.), 31. međunarodna ljetna škola kineziologa (pp. 484–489). Zadar, Croatia.
Rešetar, T., Toplek, A., & Marelić, N. (2021). Performance indicators of serve reception for different player roles in high-level women’s volleyball competitions. In S. Šalaj & D. Škegro (Eds.), 9th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology (pp. 841–845). Opatija, Croatia, September 15–19, 2021: University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology.
Rešetar, T., Marinović, M., & Ivanković, M. (2021). Razlike u testovima za eksplozivnu jakost tipa pojedinačnog vertikalnog skoka mladih odbojkašica članica hrvatske reprezentacije [Differences in single vertical-jump tests of explosive strength among young Croatian female national-team volleyball players]. In L. Milanović, V. Wertheimer, I. Jukić, & I. Krakan (Eds.), Zbornik radova: 19. godišnja međunarodna konferencija Kondicijska priprema sportaša (pp. 134–138). Zagreb, Croatia: Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu; Udruga kondicijskih trenera Hrvatske. [In Croatian]
Rešetar, T., Marinović, M., & Ambruš, P. (2020). Somatotype of the highest-ranked Croatian Superleague female volleyball players: Differences between playing roles. Croatian Sports Medicine Journal, 35(1–2), 35–40.
Rešetar, T., Marelić, N., & Antekolović, L. (2017). Analysis of performance indicators in winning teams of different age groups of top-level female volleyball players. In D. Milanović, G. Sporiš, S. Šalaj, & D. Škegro (Eds.), Proceedings of the 8th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology (pp. 397–400). Opatija, Croatia, May 10–14, 2017. Zagreb, Croatia: University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology.
Đurković, T., Marelić, N., & Rešetar, T. (2014). Differences in aerobic capacity indicators between Croatian national-team and club-level volleyball players. Kinesiology, 46(Supplement 1), 59–65.
Đurković, T., Marelić, N., & Rešetar, T. (2011). Latent structure of anthropometric dimensions in elite Croatian volleyball players. In D. Milanović & G. Sporiš (Eds.), Proceedings of the 6th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology (pp. 500–504). Opatija, Croatia, September 8–11, 2011. Zagreb, Croatia: University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology.
Zadražnik, M., Marelić, N., & Rešetar, T. (2009). Differences in rotations between winning and losing teams at the European Youth Volleyball Championships for girls. Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica, 39(4), 33–40.
Đurković, T., Marelić, N., & Rešetar, T. (2009). Rotation analysis of team performance at the 2003 European Youth Volleyball Championship. Kinesiology, 41(1), 19–24.
Marelić, N., Đurković, T., & Rešetar, T. (2008). Differences in conditioning abilities and morphological characteristics between junior and senior volleyball players. In D. Milanović & F. Prot (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Kinesiology Research Trends and Applications (pp. 958–962). Zagreb, Croatia, September 10–14, 2008: University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology.
Đurković, T., Marelić, N., & Rešetar, T. (2008). Influence of player position in the rotation on differences between winning and losing teams in volleyball. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 8(2), 8–15.
Marelić, N., Rešetar, T., & Janković, V. (2004). Discriminant analysis of sets won and lost by one team in the Italian A1 Volleyball League: A case study. Kinesiology, 36(1), 75–82.
Books and Manuals
Đurković, T., Marelić, N., & Rešetar, T. (2014). Volleyball: Peer-reviewed teaching materials. [Online publication]. Zagreb, Croatia: University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology.
Janković, V., Đurković, T., & Rešetar, T. (2009). Uvod u specijalizaciju igračkih uloga u odbojci [Introduction to the specialization of playing roles in volleyball]. Zagreb, Croatia: Autorska naklada. [In Croatian]
Marelić, N., Marelić, S., Đurković, T., & Rešetar, T. (2008). Nastavne teme iz odbojke za osnovne škole: Priručnik za učitelje tjelesne i zdravstvene kulture [Volleyball teaching units for primary schools: A manual for physical education teachers]. Zagreb, Croatia: Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. [In Croatian]
Tomica Rešetar’s professional interests are focused on volleyball coaching, coach education, youth player development, strength and conditioning, sports diagnostics, and performance analysis in volleyball and beach volleyball.
A central aspect of his professional work is the application of scientific and methodological knowledge in everyday coaching practice. His interests include the planning, programming and monitoring of volleyball training, the development of technical and tactical skills, the long-term development of young players, player selection and the specialisation of playing roles.
He has extensive experience as a head coach, assistant coach, volleyball scout and performance analyst, and strength and conditioning coach. He has worked with male and female players across all youth age categories and at the senior level, both in club volleyball and with national teams.
His professional interests also include the use of specialised software and notational systems for the analysis of volleyball performance. This work involves the evaluation of team and individual performance, opponent analysis, match preparation and the interpretation of statistical and tactical information for coaching staffs.
He is particularly interested in the professional education and continuing development of volleyball coaches. He has participated as a lecturer and organiser at national coaching seminars and has contributed to the work of expert bodies within the Croatian Volleyball Federation.
Within the Croatian Volleyball Federation, he served as President of the Coaches Commission from 2013 to 2015, President of the Coaching Profession Committee from 2018 to 2021, and a member of the Federation’s Expert Council from 2018 to 2021.
His professional work aims to connect scientific evidence, sports diagnostics, performance analysis and practical coaching experience in order to improve player development, training quality and competitive performance.
From 2004 to 2011, as a junior researcher and research assistant.
From 2011 to 2015, as a junior researcher and senior research assistant.
From 2015 to 2016, as a postdoctoral researcher.
From 2016 to 2023, as an Assistant Professor.
Since 2023, as an Associate Professor.
Pristupačnost