Abstract
The aims were to investigate the externally measured weekly loads, and the distribution intensity relative to the 1-min maximal mean (MM) intensity of matches. Athletes (n = 28) wore 10 Hz GNSS devices during training and matches. For the descriptive analysis, a range of movement variables were collected, including total distance, high-speed distance, very high-speed distance, acceleration, and acceleration load. Using raw GNSS files, 1-min moving averages were calculated for speed (m·min−1) and acceleration (m·s−2), and were multiplied by time, specifying total distance (m), and by body mass to quantify impulse (kN·s−1). The distribution of distance and impulse accumulated at varied intensities relative to MMs was calculated, with percentages ranging from zero to 110%. Drills were categorized as either; warm-ups, skill drills, games (i.e., small-sided games), conditioning and matches. Linear mixed models determined if the distribution of intensity within each threshold (>50%) varied between drill types and matches, and if the distribution within drill types varied across the season. Effects were described using standardized effect sizes (ES) and 90% confidence limits (CL). Compared to matches, a higher proportion of distance was accumulated at 50% of the MM within warm-ups and conditioning (ES range 0.86–1.14). During matches a higher proportion of distance was accumulated at 60% of MM when compared to warms ups, skill drills and conditioning (0.73–1.87). Similarly, greater proportion of distance was accumulated between 70 and 100% MM in matches compared to skill drills and warm-ups (1.05–3.93). For impulse, matches had a higher proportion between 60 and 80% of the MM compared to conditioning drills (0.91–3.23). There were no other substantial differences in the proportion of impulse between matches and drill types. When comparing phases, during competition there was a higher proportion of distance accumulated at 50% MM than general preparation (1.08). A higher proportion of distance was covered at higher intensities within matches compared to drills. The proportion of impulse was higher between 60 and 80% MM within matches compared to conditioning. Practitioners can therefore ensure athletes are not only exposed to the intensities common within competition, but also the volume accumulated is comparable, which may have positive performance outcomes, but is also extremely important in the return to play process.
Highlights
The Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) is a national, two-conference competition comprizing 14 teams across five states of Australia
There are some modifications compared to AFL (Clarke et al, 2018), AFLW can be described as a high-intensity, intermittent team sport (Clarke et al, 2018; Thornton et al, 2020)
These data (Clarke et al, 2018, 2019) provide an understanding of the volume, intensity and type of locomotive activity covered in matches that can be useful in optimizing training prescriptions – an area of AFLW that has not yet been presented in the scientific literature
Summary
The Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) is a national, two-conference competition comprizing 14 teams across five states of Australia. AFLW athletes cover between ∼5–7 km during each match, with ∼50 min of playing time (Clarke et al, 2018; Thornton et al, 2020), equating to a mean running speed (m·min−1) of between 102 and 128 m·min−1. Running efforts are interspersed with rest intervals (walking or standing still) and technical skills such as kicking, tackling, and marking. These data (Clarke et al, 2018, 2019) provide an understanding of the volume, intensity and type of locomotive activity covered in matches that can be useful in optimizing training prescriptions – an area of AFLW that has not yet been presented in the scientific literature
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