Resumen de Physical and Physiological Demands of Elite International Female Field Hockey Players During Competitive Match Play

Aideen Mcguinness, Shane Malone, George Petrakos, D. Kieran Collins

• The aim of the current investigation was to quantify the physical and physiological demands of elite international female field hockey match play across halves of play. Thirty-eight participants (24 +/- 5 years; 173 +/- 5 cm; 72 +/- 5 kg) took part in 19 competitive matches during the 2014-2015 season. Participants were monitored with global positioning system technology and heart rate monitors. Players were categorized based on 3 different playing positions. Activity was categorized into total (m), high-speed running distance (m; >16 km[middle dot]h-1), and relative distance (RD) (m[middle dot]min-1) due to the use of rolling substitutions. Heart rate was classified based on the percentage of players' individual peak heart rate (HRpeak) determined by a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test. Players spent on average 44 +/- 7 minutes in match play. The total distance (TD) covered was 5,558 +/- 527 m (125 +/- 23 m[middle dot]min-1) with 589 +/- 160 m (13 +/- 4 m[middle dot]min-1) completed at high speed. Defenders covered a greater TD compared with other positions of play (p <= 0.001). Midfield players covered a greater distance at high speed (p <= 0.001) with the forwards having a higher relative distance (p <= 0.001). The HRpeak of the players was 199 +/- 1 b[middle dot]min-1 with a mean exercise intensity of 86 +/- 7.8% of HRpeak. The time spent >85% HRpeak decreased significantly across the halves (p = 0.04, [eta]2 = 0.09, small). Defenders were found to spend more time >85% HRpeak when compared with forwards (p <= 0.001). The current investigation provides normative data that coaches should consider when constructing training regimen.