Increased air temperature decreases high-speed, but not total distance, in international field hockey

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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Relationship Between Internal and External Training Load in Field Hockey

International Journal of Strength and Conditioning ◽

10.47206/ijsc.v1i1.24 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katrine Tuft ◽

Mykolas Kavaliauskas

Keyword(s):

High Power ◽

High Speed ◽

Power Distance ◽

Training Load ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Total Distance ◽

Perceived Wellness ◽

External Training ◽

High Power Distance ◽

Training Efficiency

Training load monitoring in team sports is important in order to plan and evaluate training strategies and ensure optimal performance. Integration of internal and external training load measures into a single training efficiency metric reduces the effect of confounding variables on training loads. The purpose of this study was to generate a training efficiency metric to evaluate in-season field hockey training. Further, the relationship between players’ perceived wellness the training efficiency metric was determined. Internal (training impulse and session rating of perceived exertion; TRIMP and sRPE) and external (total distance, high-speed distance, acceleration load, high-power distance, metabolic work, mechanical work, and impulse) training load was collected over a 6-week period for 11 male national level field hockey players (21.1 ± 1.2 years, 178.7 ± 8.6 cm, 4.6 ± 6.3 kg). The relationships between internal and external training load were assessed, and two training efficiency models were generated through mixed model analyses using sRPE and TRIMP. Subsequently, the relationships between training efficiency and perceived wellness were examined. The statistical analyses determined that total distance, high-speed distance, high-power distance, and metabolic work (r = 0.311-0.573) were included in the TRIMP training efficiency model. The sRPE training efficiency model included total distance, high-speed distance, high-power distance, metabolic work, and mechanical work (r = 0.329-0.757). Moreover, neither of the training efficiency models were related to daily cumulative wellness scores (TRIMP: r = -0.046; p = 0.336; sRPE: r = -0.034; p = 0.370). The study showed that the sRPE training efficiency model provided a better reflection of in-season field hockey training demands than the TRIMP model. Additionally, practitioners are not advised to adjust training based on acute changes in players’ perceived wellness.

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Investigating the Effect of Individual Rotations on the Physical and Physiological Performance in Elite Female Field Hockey Players

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11031022 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 1022

Author(s):

Aideen McGuinness ◽

Darren Kenna ◽

Adam Grainger ◽

Kieran Collins

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

High Speed ◽

Maximal Velocity ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Match Play ◽

Total Distance ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Rate Maximum ◽

Physiological Demands

To quantify the rotational demands of elite female field hockey with respect to position. Twenty-eight (n = 28) elite international field hockey players were recruited during the 2018–2020 seasons. Players were monitored with GPS technology and heart-rate monitors. Methods: Activity was categorised into total distance (m), relative total distance (m·min−1), high-speed distance (m; 16 km∙h−1), relative high-speed distance (m·min−1), max velocity (km·h−1), and percentage maximal velocity (%Vmax). Physiological demands were assessed via heart rate measures (bpm and % HRmax) and time > 80% heart rate maximum. Results: A single rotation equated to 7 ± 0.8 min. Players covered a mean total distance of was 868 ± 132 m (125.7 ± 5.9 m·min−1) with 140 ± 39 m at high-speed (21.7 ± 3.6 m·min−1). A significant difference was reported for relative total (p ≤ 0.001), and high-speed (p ≤ 0.001), distance across positional. Forwards were reported to cover the most relative total and high-speed distance (d = 1.0) when compared to defenders and midfielders. Conclusion: The study provides normative data for rotational demands of elite female field hockey. Coaches should consider these demands when developing training drills to better optimise the positional physical and physiological demands of competitive match-play.

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Do elite soccer players cover longer distance when losing? Differences between attackers and defenders

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching ◽

10.1177/1747954120982270 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 174795412098227

Author(s):

Carlos Lago-Peñas ◽

Anton Kalén ◽

Miguel Lorenzo-Martinez ◽

Roberto López-Del Campo ◽

Ricardo Resta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

High Speed ◽

Large Scale ◽

Tracking System ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Running Performance ◽

Situational Variables ◽

Total Distance ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Score Line

This study aimed to evaluate the effects playing position, match location (home or away), quality of opposition (strong or weak), effective playing time (total time minus stoppages), and score-line on physical match performance in professional soccer players using a large-scale analysis. A total of 10,739 individual match observations of outfield players competing in the Spanish La Liga during the 2018–2019 season were recorded using a computerized tracking system (TRACAB, Chyronhego, New York, USA). The players were classified into five positions (central defenders, players = 94; external defenders, players = 82; central midfielders, players = 101; external midfielders, players = 72; and forwards, players = 67) and the following match running performance categories were considered: total distance covered, low-speed running (LSR) distance (0–14 km · h−1), medium-speed running (MSR) distance (14–21 km · h−1), high-speed running (HSR) distance (>21 km · h−1), very HSR (VHSR) distance (21–24 km · h−1), sprint distance (>24 km · h−1) Overall, match running performance was highly dependent on situational variables, especially the score-line condition (winning, drawing, losing). Moreover, the score-line affected players running performance differently depending on their playing position. Losing status increased the total distance and the distance covered at MSR, HSR, VHSR and Sprint by defenders, while attacking players showed the opposite trend. These findings may help coaches and managers to better understand the effects of situational variables on physical performance in La Liga and could be used to develop a model for predicting the physical activity profile in competition.

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Exercise Intensity and Technical Involvement in U9 Team Handball: Effect of Game Format

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115663 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5663

Author(s):

Georgios Ermidis ◽

Rasmus C. Ellegard ◽

Vincenzo Rago ◽

Morten B. Randers ◽

Peter Krustrup ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Locomotor Activity ◽

Exercise Intensity ◽

High Intensity ◽

High Speed ◽

Medium Size ◽

Total Distance ◽

Team Handball ◽

Large Size ◽

Game Format

The purpose of this study was to quantify the exercise intensity and technical involvement of U9 boys’ and girls’ team handball during different game formats, and the differences between genders. Locomotor activity (total distance, distance in speed zones, accelerations, and decelerations), heart rate (HR), and technical involvement (shots, goals, and duels) metrics were collected during various 15 min game formats from a total of 57 Danish U9 players (37 boys and 20 girls). Game formats were a small size pitch (20 × 13 m) with 3 vs 3 players and offensive goalkeepers (S3 + 1) and 4 vs 4 players (S4), a medium size pitch (25.8 × 20 m) with 4 vs 4 (M4) and 5 vs 5 (M5) players, and a large size pitch (40 × 20 m) with 5 vs 5 (L5) players. Boys and girls covered a higher total distance (TD) of high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting during L5 games compared to all other game formats (p < 0.05; ES = (−0.9 to −2.1), (−1.4 to −2.8), and (−0.9 to −1.3) respectively). Players covered the highest amount of sprinting distance in L5 games compared to all other game formats (p < 0.01; ES = 0.8 to 1.4). In all the game formats, players spent from 3.04 to 5.96 min in 180–200 bpm and 0.03 min to 0.85 min in >200 bpm of the total 15 min. In addition, both genders had more shots in S3 + 1 than M5 (p < 0.01; ES = 1.0 (0.4;1.7)) and L5 (p < 0.01; ES = 1.1 (0.6;2.2)). Team handball matches have high heart rates, total distances covered, and high-intensity running distances for U9 boys and girls irrespective of the game format. Locomotor demands appeared to be even higher when playing on larger pitches, whereas the smaller pitch size and fewer players led to elevated technical involvement.

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GPS Analysis of an International Field Hockey Tournament

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.7.3.224 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 224-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Denise Jennings ◽

Stuart J. Cormack ◽

Aaron J. Coutts ◽

Robert J. Aughey

Keyword(s):

Exercise Intensity ◽

High Speed ◽

Team Sport ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Positioning Systems ◽

Large Margin ◽

Global Positioning ◽

Percent Difference ◽

World Class ◽

Multiple Games

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of multiple games on exercise intensity during a world-class hockey tournament.Methods:15 players (mean ± SD age 27 ± 4 y, stature 179 ± 5 cm, body mass 77 ± 5 kg, and estimated VO2 64.2 ± 3.1 mL · kg−1 · min−1) competing in the Champions Trophy (CT). Global-positioning systems assessed total distance (TD), low-speed activity (LSA; 0.10–4.17 m/s), and high-speed running (HSR; >4.17 m/s) distance. Differences in movement demands (TD, LSA, HSR) between positions and matches were assessed using the effect size and percent difference ± 90% confidence intervals. Two levels of comparison were made. First, data from subsequent matches were compared with match 1, and, second, data from each match compared with a tournament average (TA).Results:In all matches, compared with game 1, midfielders performed less HSR distance. However, the amount of HSR did not decrease as the tournament progressed. When compared with the TA, defenders showed more variation in each match. All positions showed lower movement outputs when the team won by a large margin.Conclusions:It was possible for elite team-sport athletes to maintain exercise intensity when playing 6 matches in a period of 9 days, contrary to the only other investigation of this in elite male field hockey.

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A New Approach for Training-load Quantification in Elite-level Soccer: Contextual Factors

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/a-1289-9059 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Berni Guerrero-Calderón ◽

Maximilian Klemp ◽

Alfonso Castillo-Rodriguez ◽

José Alfonso Morcillo ◽

Daniel Memmert

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Contextual Factors ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Total Distance ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Equivalent Distance ◽

Physical Responses ◽

Match Location

AbstractThe aims of this study were to analyse the physical responses of professional soccer players during training considering the contextual factors of match location, season period, and quality of the opposition; and to establish prediction models of physical responses during training sessions. Training data was obtained from 30 professional soccer players from Spanish La Liga using global positioning technology (N=1365 performances). A decreased workload was showed during training weeks prior to home matches, showing large effects in power events, equivalent distance, total distance, walk distance and low-speed running distance. Also, the quality of the opposition also affected the training workload (p<0.05). All regression-models showed moderate effects, with an adjusted R2 of 0.37 for metabolic-work, 0.34 for total distance covered, 0.25 for high-speed running distance (18–21 km·h−1), 0.29 for very high-speed running distance (21–24 km·h−1), 0.22 for sprint running distance (>24 km·h−1) and 0.34 for equivalent distance. The main finding of this study was the great association of match location, season period and quality of opposition on the workload performed by players in the training week before the match; and the development of workload prediction-models considering these contextual factors, thus proposing a new and innovative approach to quantify the workload in soccer.

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Reduction in Physical Match Performance at the Start of the Second Half in Elite Soccer

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.6.2.174 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 174-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Matthew Weston ◽

Alan M. Batterham ◽

Carlo Castagna ◽

Matthew D. Portas ◽

Christopher Barnes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Match Analysis ◽

Warm Up ◽

Total Distance ◽

Mean Differences ◽

English Premier League ◽

Opening Phase ◽

Physical Match

Purpose:Soccer referees’ physical match performances at the start of the second half (46–60 min) were evaluated in relation to both the corresponding phase of the first half (0–15 min) and players’ performances during the same match periods.Methods:Match analysis data were collected (Prozone, UK) from 12 soccer referees on 152 English Premier League matches during the 2008/09 soccer season. Physical match performance categories for referees and players were total distance, high-speed running distance (speed >5.5 m/s), and sprinting distance (>7.0 m/s). The referees’ heart rate was recorded from the start of their warm-up to the end of the match. The referees’ average distances (in meters) from the ball and fouls were also calculated.Results:No substantial differences were observed in duration (16:42 ± 2:35 vs 16:27 ± 1:00 min) or intensity (107 ± 11 vs 106 ± 14 beats/min) of the referees’ preparation periods immediately before each half. Physical match performance was reduced during the initial phase of the second half when compared with the first half in both referees (effect sizes—standardized mean differences—0.19 to 0.73) and players (effect sizes 0.20 to 1.01). The degree of the decreased performance was consistent between referees and players for total distance (4.7 m), high-speed running (1.5 m), and sprinting (1.1 m). The referees were closer to the ball (effect size 0.52) during the opening phase the second half.Conclusion:Given the similarity in the referees’ preparation periods, it may be that the reduced physical match performances observed in soccer referees during the opening stages of the second half are a consequence of a slower tempo of play.

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Individual Response to External Training Load in Elite Football Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2019-0453 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 696-704

Author(s):

Håvard Wiig ◽

Thor Einar Andersen ◽

Live S. Luteberget ◽

Matt Spencer

Keyword(s):

External Load ◽

High Speed ◽

Training Load ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Football Players ◽

Individual Response ◽

Total Distance ◽

External Training ◽

Tracking Devices ◽

Very High

Purpose: To investigate within-player effect, between-player effect, and individual response of external training load from player tracking devices on session rating of perceived exertion training load (sRPE-TL) in elite football players. Methods: The authors collected sRPE-TL from 18 outfield players in 21 training sessions. Total distance, high-speed running distance (>14.4 m/s), very high-speed running distance (>19.8 m/s), PlayerLoad™, PlayerLoad2D™, and high-intensity events (HIE > 1.5, HIE > 2.5, and HIE > 3.5 m/s) were extracted from the tracking devices. The authors modeled within-player and between-player effects of single external load variables on sRPE-TL, and multiple levels of variability, using a linear mixed model. The effect of 2 SDs of external load on sRPE-TL was evaluated with magnitude-based inferences. Results: Total distance, PlayerLoad™, PlayerLoad2D™, and HIE > 1.5 had most likely substantial within-player effects on sRPE-TL (100%–106%, very large effect sizes). Moreover, the authors observed likely substantial between-player effects (12%–19%, small to moderate effect sizes) from the majority of the external load variables and likely to very likely substantial individual responses of PlayerLoad™, high-speed running distance, very high-speed running distance, and HIE > 1.5 (19%–30% coefficient of variation, moderate to large effect sizes). Finally, sRPE-TL showed large to very large between-session variability with all external load variables. Conclusions: External load variables with low intensity-thresholds had the strongest relationship with sRPE-TL. Furthermore, the between-player effect of external load and the individual response to external load advocate for monitoring sRPE-TL in addition to external load. Finally, the large between-session variability in sRPE-TL demonstrates that substantial amounts of sRPE-TL in training sessions are not explained by single external load variables.

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Analysis of the Association between Running Performance and Game Performance Indicators in Professional Soccer Players

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16204032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (20) ◽

pp. 4032 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Modric ◽

Versic ◽

Sekulic ◽

Liposek

Keyword(s):

Performance Indicators ◽

High Intensity ◽

High Speed ◽

Body Height ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Running Performance ◽

Total Distance ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Performance Statistics ◽

Game Performance

Running performance (RP) and game performance indicators (GPI) are important determinants of success in soccer (football), but there is an evident lack of knowledge about the possible associations between RP and GPI. This study aimed to identify associations between RP and GPI in professional soccer players and to compare RP and GPI among soccer playing positions. One hundred one match performances were observed over the course of half of a season at the highest level of national competition in Croatia. Players (mean ± SD, age: 23.85 ± 2.88 years; body height: 183.05 ± 8.88 cm; body mass: 78.69 ± 7.17 kg) were classified into five playing positions (central defenders (n = 26), full-backs (n = 24), central midfielders (n = 33), wide midfielders (n = 10), and forwards (n = 8). RP, as measured by global positioning system, included the total distance covered, distance covered in five speed categories (walking, jogging, running, high-speed running, and maximal sprinting), total number of accelerations, number of high-intensity accelerations, total number of decelerations, and number of high-intensity decelerations. The GPI were collected by the position-specific performance statistics index (InStat index). The average total distance was 10,298.4 ± 928.7 m, with central defenders having the shortest and central midfielders having the greatest covered distances. The running (r = 0.419, p = 0.03) and high-intensity accelerations (r = 0.493, p = 0.01) were correlated with the InStat index for central defenders. The number of decelerations of full-backs (r = −0.43, p = 0.04) and the distance covered during sprinting of forwards (r = 0.80, p = 0.02) were associated with their GPI obtained by InStat index. The specific correlations between RP and GPI should be considered during the conditioning process in soccer. The soccer training should follow the specific requirements of the playing positions established herein, which will allow players to meet the game demands and to perform successfully.

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