Peak Running Intensity of Elite Female Field Hockey Players During Competitive Match Play

McGuinness, A, Passmore, D, Malone, S, and Collins, K. Peak running intensity of elite female field hockey players during competitive match play. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 1064-1070, 2022-In recent years, backroom coaching staff have relied heavily on the global demands of competitive match-play to monitor running performance within training and match environments. Although, these figures help prepare players for the demands of match-play, they do not account for the physical and physiological stress of the most intense periods of competition. The aim of the current study was to quantify the duration and position-specific maximal running performance during match-play using a 1-10-minute moving average epoch methodology. Twenty-six (n = 26) elite international female field hockey players (23 +/- 3 years; 162.6 +/- 13 cm; 66 +/- 6 kg) participated in the current observational study. Data were collected during 22 international games, resulting in over 360 individual samples (n = 368) being obtained for analysis. Players were categorized based on their positional lines of play (defenders, midfielders, and forwards). Variables of interest included relative total (m center dot min(-1)), high-speed (>16 km center dot h(-1); m center dot min(-1)) and sprint distance (>20 km center dot h(-1); m center dot min(-1)). Regardless of position, varying differences were observed between 10-minute rolling average for relative total (mod-large), high-speed (mod-large), and sprint (mod-large) distance respectively. Furthermore, as the duration of the rolling average increased, so did the observed differences (small). The forwards (119.3 +/- 19.7 m center dot min(-1)) were reported to have the highest peak output during minute one for relative high-speed distance when compared with the defenders (100.7 +/- 19.7, effect size [ES] 0.9, large) and the midfield (106.8 +/- 23.4 m center dot min(-1), ES 0.5, moderate). The results of the current study show that the running performance of field hockey players alters during match-play irrespective of moving average. Finally, the data will aid practitioners in the development of sport-specific drills to adequately prepare hockey players for the maximal intensity periods of elite hockey match-play.

Automated summary

This study observed the running performance of elite female field hockey players during matches and found differences in relative total distance, high-speed distance, and sprint distance among players in different positions. The results suggest that running performance of field hockey players alters during match-play, which can aid in the development of sport-specific drills.