Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation

Players need a high level of energy and analytical skill to fulfil the requirements of a field hockey game. Sports-specific physical training is paramount in field hockey. Few published studies have focused on the demands placed on participants at non-elite level. This study quantified the positiona...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: McManus, Alexandra, Stevenson, M.
Format: Conference Paper
Published: Sports Medicine Australia 2007
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18257
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author McManus, Alexandra
Stevenson, M.
author_facet McManus, Alexandra
Stevenson, M.
author_sort McManus, Alexandra
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Players need a high level of energy and analytical skill to fulfil the requirements of a field hockey game. Sports-specific physical training is paramount in field hockey. Few published studies have focused on the demands placed on participants at non-elite level. This study quantified the positional demands of both male and female non-elite competitors with the view to developing guidelines to test players preparedness to compete. This study found that there were few significant differences between the demands placed on players by position or gender with players performing between 510 and 520 separate movements per game, changing movements every 8-11 seconds. Differences existed between the number and utility movements in both genders however male defenders completed significantly more high intensity movements in comparison to female attack players. On average players in both genders completed up to 300 moderately high or high intensity movements over a game with more intense anaerobic efforts required towards the end of playing periods. The findings of this study indicate the need for gender-specific basic skills and fitness programs with two additional components addressing the differing needs of midfielders and defences (similar) and the attacks. This paper will present evidence for the development of performance tests that cater for the significant differences between the demands of each position. The tests can be used to assess player preparedness to compete, if ready to return to play following injury or if fatigued during the season.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-182572017-10-02T02:26:57Z Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation McManus, Alexandra Stevenson, M. Players need a high level of energy and analytical skill to fulfil the requirements of a field hockey game. Sports-specific physical training is paramount in field hockey. Few published studies have focused on the demands placed on participants at non-elite level. This study quantified the positional demands of both male and female non-elite competitors with the view to developing guidelines to test players preparedness to compete. This study found that there were few significant differences between the demands placed on players by position or gender with players performing between 510 and 520 separate movements per game, changing movements every 8-11 seconds. Differences existed between the number and utility movements in both genders however male defenders completed significantly more high intensity movements in comparison to female attack players. On average players in both genders completed up to 300 moderately high or high intensity movements over a game with more intense anaerobic efforts required towards the end of playing periods. The findings of this study indicate the need for gender-specific basic skills and fitness programs with two additional components addressing the differing needs of midfielders and defences (similar) and the attacks. This paper will present evidence for the development of performance tests that cater for the significant differences between the demands of each position. The tests can be used to assess player preparedness to compete, if ready to return to play following injury or if fatigued during the season. 2007 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18257 Sports Medicine Australia restricted
spellingShingle McManus, Alexandra
Stevenson, M.
Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
title Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
title_full Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
title_fullStr Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
title_short Quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
title_sort quantifying the physical demands in non-elite field hockey to develop training guidelines that minimise injury through adequate preparation
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18257