Abstract
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.
Highlights
Field hockey can be best described as a stick and ball field-based sport comprised of both technical and tactical components that are completed at moderate to high speeds [1,2,3]
The data reported within the current study show that regardless of position elite female field hockey players cover a total distance of 868 ± 132 m (124.9 ± 10.7 m·min−1) with 140 ± 39 m (20.1 ± 4.5 m·min−1) covered at high-speed across each rotation
These results are in line with the findings reported by Harry and Booysen [4], who suggested that players who had a quicker heart rate recovery time had an enhanced ability to cope with the intensity of competitive match-play and could maintain the capacity to run at higher speeds
Summary
Field hockey can be best described as a stick and ball field-based sport comprised of both technical and tactical components that are completed at moderate to high speeds [1,2,3]. Field hockey has undergone vast technical and structural changes. One of these significant changes occurred in 2016 when the structure of the game went from two halves to four quarters. In 1992, the International hockey federation (FIH) introduced the “rolling substitutions” rule whereby substitutions could take place at any time during the game. These are known as “rotations” by coaching and performance staff. During match-play, 11 players may be on the pitch at one time with a total of five additional players available to roll-on and roll-off at any time. Players will perform 6–8 rotations during a game with the timing of these rotations pre-determined based on the tactical decisions of the Head Coach
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