Performance Differences of Temporal Parameters and Point Outcome between Elite Men's and Women's Badminton Players According to Match-Related Contexts.

Gomez Gomez,Leicht Leicht,Connor Connor,Rivas Rivas

doi:10.3390/ijerph16214057

Abstract

Background: the aim of the present study was to identify the temporal and notational performance differences between elite men’s and women’s badminton players according to match type and set. Methods: the sample was composed of 60 men’s and 60 women’s matches classified by match type or duration: short (lower quartile), long (upper quartile) and regular matches (interquartile range). Temporal and notational variables were analysed for each match and compared between sexes accounting for match duration. Results: greater intensity for most variables (i.e., rally time, rest time, density, and strokes per match/rally) was exhibited in men’s matches compared with women’s matches (i.e., higher frequency between strokes). In addition, the greater intensity for men compared to women was more pertinent during long matches (13 significant variables) and less evident during short matches (six significant variables). Point outcome displayed similar trends for each sex during matches with more winners for men’s players when serving and more unforced errors for women’s players. Lastly, based on each match type, fewer sex differences were noted during sets 2 and 3, as the match progressed. Conclusion: men’s players performed at a greater intensity than women’s players for different match and set contexts, with this sex difference enhanced when controlling for match type and set. The development of sex- and match-specific scenarios will assist coaches and trainers in the design of specific training drills to enhance the athletic performance of elite badminton players.

Highlights

Badminton is an intermittent and dynamic racket sport, where both competing players have to act and react during the rallies to gain temporal and positional advantages over their opponents in order to win the point [1,2,3,4,5]
Irrespective of match length, a number of temporal parameters were greater for males, albeit lower frequency between strokes compared to females
Avian et al [12] who reported that mens players played with higher stroke frequency and explosive actions (e.g., Smash) surprising the opponents and finishing the point with a winner. These results indicate the importance of rest time and recovery between points that may impact on forced and unforced errors [10,12,14]

Summary

Introduction

Badminton is an intermittent and dynamic racket sport (i.e., combining speed, high intensity actions, anticipation and rest intervals), where both competing players have to act and react during the rallies (i.e., interaction of technique, tactics and decision making) to gain temporal and positional advantages over their opponents in order to win the point [1,2,3,4,5]. The current badminton regulations (i.e., scoring system) have resulted in changes for players’ performances with longer matches incorporating more aggressive playing styles, different tactical patterns and reduced time between strokes during longer rallies [3,6]. Abian-Vicen et al [1] have suggested that badminton is evolving with an increase in the intensity of rallies, sets and matches. Public Health 2019, 16, 4057; doi:10.3390/ijerph16214057 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion