Locomotor, Heart-Rate, and Metabolic Power Characteristics of Youth Women's Field Hockey: Female Athletes in Motion (FAiM) Study

Purpose:To examine locomotor demands and metabolic-power characteristics of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) field hockey matches.Methods:Using a cross-sectional design, global positioning system (GPS) technology tracked Division I field hockey players from 6 teams during 1 regular-season match (68 player observations). An ANOVA compared locomotor demands and metabolic-power characteristics among positions. Paired t tests compared dependent variables between halves.Results:Defenders played 5−6 min more than midfielders, whereas midfielders played 6−7 min more than forwards. Defenders covered less relative distance (98 m/min) than forwards and midfielders (110−111 m/min), as well as more low-intensity running than forwards and less high-intensity running than midfielders. Lower mean metabolic power (9.3 W/kg) was observed for defenders than forwards and midfielders (10.4 W/kg). There was no difference in playing time between halves; however, all 3 positions had a reduction in relative distance (7−9%) and mean metabolic power (8−9%) during the second half.Conclusions:Despite more playing time, defenders covered less relative distance and had lower mean metabolic power than other positions. Moderate-intensity, high-intensity, and sprint distance were similar between positions, highlighting the greater relative demands on forwards because they tended to have the least amount of playing time. The reduction of key metrics during the second half was similar among positions and warrants further investigation. These initial results can be used to design position-specific drills or create small-sided games that replicate match demands for NCAA athletes, thus helping establish strategies for developing physiological ability of players at this level.

Download Full-text

Wearable Technologies in Field Hockey Competitions: A Scoping Review

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21155242 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (15) ◽

pp. 5242

Author(s):

Jolene Ziyuan Lim ◽

Alexiaa Sim ◽

Pui Wah Kong

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Inertial Sensors ◽

Wearable Devices ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Heart Rate Monitors ◽

Search Terms ◽

Physiological Demands ◽

And Performance ◽

Future Work ◽

Skin Temperatures

The aim of this review is to investigate the common wearable devices currently used in field hockey competitions, and to understand the hockey-specific parameters these devices measure. A systematic search was conducted by using three electronic databases and search terms that included field hockey, wearables, accelerometers, inertial sensors, global positioning system (GPS), heart rate monitors, load, performance analysis, player activity profiles, and competitions from the earliest record. The review included 39 studies that used wearable devices during competitions. GPS units were found to be the most common wearable in elite field hockey competitions, followed by heart rate monitors. Wearables in field hockey are mostly used to measure player activity profiles and physiological demands. Inconsistencies in sampling rates and performance bands make comparisons between studies challenging. Nonetheless, this review demonstrated that wearable devices are being used for various applications in field hockey. Researchers, engineers, coaches, and sport scientists can consider using GPS units of higher sampling rates, as well as including additional variables such as skin temperatures and injury associations, to provide a more thorough evaluation of players’ physical and physiological performances. Future work should include goalkeepers and non-elite players who are less studied in the current literature.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

The Effect of Caffeine Consumed Before Competition on Heart Rate, Trigger Squeeze Time and Shooting Score in Air Pistol Athletes

10.53350/pjmhs2115113202 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 3202-3205

Author(s):

Kadir Diler ◽

Gamze Erikoğlu Örer

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Coffee Consumption ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Caffeine Consumption ◽

Male Athletes ◽

Sports History ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Caffeinated Coffee ◽

Single Blind

Background: Caffeine consumption may adversely affect the performance of athletes in some sports. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine drink consumed before competitions by air pistol athletes on their heart rate, trigger squeeze times and shooting scores. Methods: : In the study, caffeinated and caffeine-free measurements were applied on the same athletes. Following the evaluation, a total of 20 elite athletes, including 10 women with a mean age of 23.6±4.7 and 10 men with a mean age of 25.9±4.8 who had at least 2 years sports history, participated voluntarily in the study. The study was planned as a single blind. All athletes shot 10 times before both measurements. By random method, the athletes consumed Coffee with 3mg/kg caffeine or decaf coffee before the measurement. After 1 week, the same athletes were given coffee which was not given in the previous measurement before the measurement. A total of 80 shots were fired at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after both measurements. Following the evaluation, heart rates, trigger squeeze times and shooting scores of the athletes were recorded. Wilcoxon test to compare the differences between the measurements at two different times on the same group and Mann-Whitney U test to examine the differences in independent groups were used. Results: When the differences between the measurements of all male and female athletes were examined, it was found that there was an increase in their heart rate and trigger squeeze times 15, 30 and 60 minutes after caffeinated coffee consumption, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Besides there was a significant decrease in 15, 30 and 60 minute shooting scores of female athletes, and 15 and 30 minute shooting scores of male athletes (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was observed that the use of caffeine had a negative effect on the performance of air pistol athletes. Therefore, it can be said that people interested in air pistol discipline should not consume coffee or caffeine-containing beverages within 1-2 hours before the competition, if they consume, their heart rate will increase and their aiming during shooting will be more difficult and trigger-squeezing times will be extended. Keywords: Air pistol, Caffeine, Heart rate, Shooting

Download Full-text

A SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON LOW AND MODERATE LEVEL OF INTENSE CIRCUIT TRAINING ON SELECTED PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETER AMONG ELITE FEMALE ATHLETES

10.36106/ijar/7112938 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 62-63

Author(s):

S. Shanthi

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Physiological Parameter ◽

Control Group ◽

Criterion Variable ◽

Circuit Training ◽

Post Test ◽

Medium Level ◽

And Control ◽

Experimental Group

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a scientic study on low and medium level of intense circuit training on selected physiological parameter among elite female athletes. To achieve the purpose of the study thirty female athletes were selected from Erode District, Tamilnadu, India during the year 2021. The subject’s age ranges from 21 to 25 years. The selected subjects were divided into two equal groups consists of 15 subjects each namely experimental group and control group. The experimental group underwent a combined low and medium level of intensity circuit training programme for eight weeks. The control group was not taking part in any training during the course of the study. Resting heart rate was taken as criterion variable in this study. The selected subjects were tested on resting heart rate was measured through heart rate monitor. Pre-test was taken before the training period and post- test was measured immediately after the eight week training period. Statistical technique‘t’ ratio was used to analyse the means of the pre-test and post test data of experimental group and control group. The results revealed that there was a signicant difference found on the criterion variable. The difference is found due to combined low and medium level of intensity circuit training given to the experimental group on heart rate when compared to control group.

Download Full-text