Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the differences in movement intensity demands between training activities and competition match-play in elite netball. Twelve elite female netballers (mean ± SD, age = 25.9 ± 5.1 years; height = 178.6 ± 8.9 cm, body mass = 71.1 ± 7.1 kg) competing in Australia’s premier domestic netball competition participated. Data were collected across the season from all pre-season training sessions (n = 29), pre-season practice matches (n = 8), in-season training sessions (n = 21), in-season practice matches (n = 5), and competition matches (n = 15). Linear mixed-effects models assessed differences in PlayerLoad™ per minute and metreage per minute between activity types (Specialist, Skill Drills, Set-piece, Match Scenarios, Practice Match-play, and Competition Match-play) for positional groupings (Defenders, Midcourters, and Goalers). Competition Match-play resulted in higher (p < 0.05) PlayerLoad™ than all training activity types, with the largest magnitudes of difference between Specialist–Competition (d = 0.44–0.59; small to medium) and Skill Drills–Competition (d = 0.35–0.63; small to medium) for all positional groups. The smallest difference was found between Match Scenarios–Competition (d = 0.12–0.20; trivial to small) and Practice Match-play–Competition (d = 0.12–0.14; trivial). Competition Match-play also resulted in higher (p < 0.05) metreage per minute than Specialist (d = 0.23–0.53; small to medium), Skill Drills (d = 0.19–0.61; trivial to medium) and Set-piece (d = 0.05–0.31; trivial to small). Training activity demands in order of least to most similar to competition were specialist, skill drills, set-piece, match scenarios, and practice match-play. We provide data that enables coaches and physical preparation staff to incorporate progressions into their training session designs that can replicate the movement intensity demands of competition in training.
Highlights
It is commonly asserted in team-sport coaching and physical preparation literature that training should provide opportunities for athletes to experience the demands of match-play prior to competition [1,2,3]
The current study aims to compare the movement intensity demands of different activity types which occur in training to those in competition match-play in elite netball
Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between all training activity types and Competition Match-play for the PlayerLoadTM per minute variable, with Competition Match-play resulting in the highest PlayerLoad per minute across all activity types
Summary
It is commonly asserted in team-sport coaching and physical preparation literature that training should provide opportunities for athletes to experience the demands of match-play prior to competition [1,2,3]. Movement intensity demands in elite netball constraints of competition may not adequately reflect the physiological demands and movement patterns required in match-play; they may still provide specific technical or tactical development [4]. The intensity of movement (relative PlayerLoadTM; au min-1) was higher during match-play [6]. It is unclear whether different activity types within training produced higher intensity movements as sessions were not separated into activity types or coded to remove breaks between drills [6]. While there is a lack of published data exploring the external load of specific drills or activities within training sessions in elite netball, some preliminary analysis has been done using a sub-elite population [7]
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