Injuries in Field Hockey Players: A Systematic Review

Field hockey is an evolving sport, but it is unclear whether performance analysis techniques are reflective of current best practice. The objective of this review was to identify performance analysis methods used in field hockey, assess their practicality, and provide recommendations on their implementation in the field. A systematic search of the databases SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE and PubMed was performed. Key words addressed performance analysis methods and field hockey, with all other disciplines of sport science excluded. A total of 8 articles were identified from the systematic review. Three studies explored patterns of play in relation to goal scoring opportunities, two articles examined penalty corner strategies and three compared specific actions in hockey. The limited performance analysis research in field hockey has focused on game actions in patterns of play. However, greater insights may be gained by analysing hockey using a holistic approach that incorporates spatio-temporal variables and player-opposition interactions. There is an opportunity to employ novel performance analysis techniques in hockey which provide more practical and effective approaches for analysing strategies and tactics.

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Prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in recreational field hockey: the systematic development of an intervention and its feasibility

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000425 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. e000425 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Vincent Gouttebarge ◽

Victor Zuidema

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Needs Assessment ◽

Injury Prevention ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Target Groups ◽

Warm Up ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Systematic Development ◽

Extremity Injuries

ObjectiveThis article describes the systematic development of an intervention for the prevention of lower extremity injuries in field hockey and the assessment of its feasibility.MethodsThe intervention was developed according to the first four steps of the intervention mapping and knowledge transfer scheme processes, mostly based on focus group interviews with experts in field hockey and injury prevention (needs assessment; objective and target groups; content selection; development). Subsequently, a quasi-experimental research (one-group post-test design) was conducted among 35 young field hockey players and 7 coaches. Participants were asked to use the intervention for 3 weeks, and the degrees of relevancy, suitability, satisfaction and usability of the intervention were assessed by means of a questionnaire and a group interview.ResultsFirst, the needs assessment conducted among the main actors within recreational field hockey revealed that an injury prevention intervention was needed, ideally delivered through videos via an application for smartphone/tablet or website. Second, the objective and target groups of the intervention were defined, namely to prevent or reduce the occurrence of lower extremity injuries among both young and adult recreational field hockey players. Third, warming-up exercises were selected as preventive measures and strategies (eg, core stability, strength, coordination). Last, the ‘Warming-Up Hockey’ intervention was developed, consisting of a warm-up programme (delivered by coaches including more than 50 unique exercises). The relevancy, satisfaction and usability of ‘Warming-Up Hockey’ were positively evaluated, but two main alterations were made: the duration of the ‘Warming-up Hockey’ was reduced from 16 to 12 min and a match-specific warm-up was added.ConclusionThe feasibility of ‘Warming-Up Hockey’ was positively assessed by players and coaches. Prior to its nationwide implementation, the effectiveness of the intervention on injury reduction among field hockey players should be conducted.

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Effect of Changing Match Format from Halves to Quarters on the Performance Characteristics of Male University Field Hockey Players

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21165490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (16) ◽

pp. 5490

Author(s):

Elliot P. Lam ◽

Caroline D. Sunderland ◽

John G. Morris ◽

Laura-Anne M. Furlong ◽

Barry S. Mason ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

High Speed ◽

National Level ◽

Performance Characteristics ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Heart Rate Monitors ◽

Total Distance ◽

Random Intercept ◽

Hockey Players ◽

The Uk

The study examined whether the performance characteristics of male university field hockey players differed when the match format was 2 × 35 min halves compared to 2 × 2 × 17.5 min quarters. Thirty-five male university field hockey players (age 21.2 ± 3.0 years, height 1.81 ± 0.07 m, body mass 75.1 ± 8.9 kg), competing at national level in the UK, were monitored over 52 matches played across the 2018–2019 (2 × 35 min halves) and 2019–2020 (2 × 2 × 17.5 min quarters) seasons using 15 Hz Global Positioning System units and heart rate monitors. Total distance, high-speed running distance (≥15.5 km·h−1), accelerations (≥2 m·s−1), decelerations (≤−2 m·s−1), average heart rate and percentage of time spent at >85% of maximum heart rate were recorded during both match formats. Two-level random intercept hierarchal models (Match—level 1, Player—level 2) suggested that the change in format from 2 × 35 min halves (2018–2019 season) to 2 × 2 × 17.5 min quarters (2019–2020 season) resulted in a reduction in total distance and high-speed running distance completed during a match (by 221 m and 120 m, respectively, both p < 0.001). As no significant cross-level interactions were observed (between season and half), the change from 35 min halves to 17.5 min quarters did not attenuate the reduced physical performance evident during the second half of matches (total distance: −235 m less in second half; high-speed running distance: −70 m less in second half; both p < 0.001). Overall, the findings suggest that the change in match format did alter the performance characteristics of male university field hockey players, but the quarter format actually reduced the total distance and high-speed running distance completed during matches, and did not attenuate the reduction in performance seen during the second half of matches.

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Association between in-game performance parameters recorded via global positioning system and sports injuries to the lower extremities in elite female field hockey players

Cluster Computing ◽

10.1007/s10586-016-0690-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 1069-1078 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Taegyu Kim ◽

Jung-Hoon Cha ◽

Jong-Chul Park

Keyword(s):

Global Positioning System ◽

Sports Injuries ◽

Lower Extremities ◽

Positioning System ◽

Performance Parameters ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Global Positioning ◽

Game Performance

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Developmental activities and the acquisition of perceptual-cognitive expertise in international field hockey players

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching ◽

10.1177/1747954117711093 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 636-642 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

David Drake ◽

Gavin Breslin

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Match Play ◽

High Performing ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Sporting Activities ◽

Cognitive Expertise

The purpose of this study was to contrast the practice history profiles of international field hockey players and developmental activities leading to the attainment of high levels of perceptual-cognitive performance. Twenty-three international hockey players were assigned to a high performing or low performing group based on coach rankings of their perceptual and decision-making skill. Participants completed a practice history questionnaire assessing the number of hours in total practice, match play, coach-led practice, individual practice and peer-led play. Results showed that high performing players accumulated greater hours in total practice, match play, and coach-led practice compared to their low performing counterparts. Match play and coach-led practice are influential factors in the development of perceptual-cognitive performance. Diversification of sporting activities during participant’s development years did not have a negative consequence on the acquisition of hockey-specific perceptual-cognitive skills.

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