On-Ice Measures of External Load in Relation to Match Outcome in Elite Female Ice Hockey.

Veronica K Jamnik,Adam Douglas,Joseph Baker,Alison K Macpherson,Michael A Rotondi,Kathryn Johnston

doi:10.3390/sports7070173

Veronica K Jamnik, Adam Douglas + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7070173

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the differences between select on-ice measures using inertial movement sensors based on match outcome, and to determine changes in player movements across three periods of play. Data were collected during one season of competition in elite female ice hockey players (N = 20). Two-factor mixed effects ANOVAs for each skating position were performed to investigate the differences in match outcome, as well as differences in external load measures during the course of a match. For match outcome, there was a small difference for forwards in explosive ratio (p = 0.02, ES = 0.26) and percentage high force strides (p = 0.04, ES = 0.50). When viewed across three periods of a match, moderate differences were found in skating load (p = 0.01, ES = 0.75), explosive efforts (p = 0.04, ES = 0.63), and explosive ratio (p = 0.002, ES = 0.87) for forwards, and in PlayerLoad (p = 0.01, ES = 0.70), explosive efforts (p = 0.04, ES = 0.63), and explosive ratio (p = 0.01, ES = 0.70) for defense. When examining the relevance to match outcome, external load measures associated with intensity appear to be an important factor among forwards. These results may be helpful for coaches and sport scientists when making decisions pertaining to training and competition strategies.

Highlights

Ice hockey is a major international sport with over one million registered participants across the globe [1]
We report data from wearable technology using selected metrics of external load collected during matches, and their differences based on match outcomes across three periods of play
When examining the relevance to match outcome, indices of external load appears to be an important factor in this sample of elite female ice hockey players, but only among the forwards where a significant difference for explosive ratio and the percentage of high force strides was found in matches that were won versus lost

Summary

Introduction

Ice hockey is a major international sport with over one million registered participants across the globe [1]. Ice hockey athletes require well-rounded physical and physiological capabilities (amongst other qualities), including high aerobic and anaerobic capabilities, muscular strength, power, and endurance [2]. The incorporation of evidence-based approaches into training has become a critical component in many competitive sports, including ice hockey. This movement is reflected in the integration of sport science experts (analysts, medical teams, and researchers), as well as in an increased use of technology to help increase scientific rigor [3,4]. It is the hope that collecting and analyzing data from wearables, along

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