Activity profile and between-match variation in elite field hockey

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Sunderland, C. ORCID: 0000-0001-7484-1345 and Edwards, P.L., 2017. Activity profile and between-match variation in elite field hockey. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: the Official Research Journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, 31 (3), pp. 758-764. ISSN 1064-8011

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001522

Abstract

This study aimed to: 1) provide a position specific activity profile for elite male hockey players; 2) determine if the activity profile was altered by the introduction of the ‘self-pass’ rule and 3) provide information relating to match to match variability in elite male field hockey. The activity of 28 elite male field hockey players was analysed over 2 seasons totalling 395 player-match analyses using Global Positioning Satellite technology. Total distance, high speed running (>15.5 km.h-1), sprinting (>20 km.h-1) and mean speed were recorded. Players were categorised into 4 positions: full-back (FB); half-back (HB); midfield (M) and forward (F). Data were analysed using a 2 way ANOVA (season, position) and between-match coefficients of variation (CV). The time played differs with position (FB: 65.5±5.3, HB: 49.5±11.5, M: 45.9±7.1, F: 39.5±5.4 min; P<0.0005) and thus affected the activity profile. Total distance covered was greater for full backs (FB: 8001±447, HB: 6435±1399, M: 6415±908, F: 5844±762 m, p<0.001) and mean speed and percentage time spent high-speed running and sprinting was greater for forwards than all other positions (HSR: FB: 6.8±1.0, HB: 8.8±1.3, M: 10.7±1.2, F: 13.5±1.8 %, p<0.001). The activity profile did not differ with the introduction of the self-pass. Match to match variability (CV) ranged from 5.0% to 22.0% for total and sprint distance respectively. This is the first study to present an activity profile of elite men’s field hockey and its associated variability and demonstrates that each position is unique and therefore training and recovery should be position specific.

Item Type:

Journal article

Alternative Title:

Hockey match activity and variability

Publication Title:

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: the Official Research Journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association

Creators:

Sunderland, C. and Edwards, P.L.

Publisher:

Wolters Kluwer for the National Strength and Conditioning Association

Date:

March 2017