Physical and physiological characteristics of elite ringette players

Abstract

There is a scarcity of descriptive data on the physiological capabilities that underlie successful performance in the sport of ringette. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine a variety of physical and physiological variables considered important to game performance in nineteen elite female ringette players who comprised Team Canada, the gold‐medal‐winning squad at the 1996 Ringette World Championships. Skinfold thicknesses, selected muscular flexibility, strength and endurance measures, isokinetic knee flexor and extensor strength, anaerobic power, maximal aerobic power and on‐ice performance time were among the physiological variables investigated. The following overall means (SD) were observed: age, 20.6 (3.8) years; height, 165.9 (3.8)cm; weight, 62.3 (5.1)kg; sum of nine skinfolds, 143.3 (29.5)mm; combined grip strength, 63.6 (6.7) kg; total push‐ups, 18.2 (5.5) total curl‐ups, 33.4 (16.7) sit‐and‐reach flexibility, 40.7 (6.1) peak isokinetic knee extensor and flexor torque (l.05 rad‐s−1), 164.8 (22.7) and 109.2 (11.4)N‐m respectively; peak anaerobic power output, 12.4 (1.1)W‐kg−1; maximal aerobic power, 47.0 (3.9) ml−1 min−1 kg−1. There were few differences among positions for the variables measured. The results indicate that elite ringette players possess an enhanced level of muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, relatively low adiposity and well developed anaerobic and aerobic fitness.