The match-play sprint performance of elite senior hurlers during competitive games.

Damien Young,Laurent Mourot,Shane Malone,Marco Beato,Giuseppe Coratella,Kieran Collins,Luca Paolo Ardigò

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0215156

Abstract

The typical sprint profile in elite hurling has yet to be established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sprinting demands of elite hurling competition and characterize the sprinting patterns of different playing positions. GPS (10-Hz, STATSports Viper) were used to collect data from 51 hurlers during 18 games. The total sprint (≥22 km·h-1) distance (TSD), the number of sprints (NOS) classified as length (<20 m, ≥20 m) and relative speed thresholds (<80%, 80–90%, >90%), the between-sprint duration and the number of repeated-sprint bouts (≥2 sprints in ≤60 s) were analyzed. The NOS was 22.2 ± 6.8 accumulating 415 ± 140 m TSD. The NOS <20 m, ≥20 m was 14.0 ± 4.7 and 8.1 ± 3.6 respectively. The NOS <80%, 80–90% and >90% was 10.6 ± 4.3, 8.2 ± 3.6, 3.4 ± 2.4 respectively. The between-sprint duration and the repeated-sprint bouts were 208 ± 86 s and 4.5 ± 2.6 respectively. TSD (ES = -0.20), NOS (ES = -0.34), NOS <20 m (ES = -0.33), ≥20 m (ES = -0.24), 80–90% (ES = -0.35) >90% (ES = -0.13) and repeated-sprint bouts (ES = -0.28) decreased between-halves. Full-backs performed a lower NOS <80% than half-backs (ES = -0.66) and a shorter mean duration of sprints than half-backs (ES = -0.75), midfielders (ES = -1.00) and full-forwards (ES = -0.59). These findings provide a sprint profile of elite hurling match-play that coaches should consider to replicate the sprint demands of competition in training.

Highlights

Hurling is a field-based stick and ball invasion-type team sport native to Ireland, which is played between two opposing teams of 15 players
All players in the current study were competing at the highest level (Provincial and All-Ireland Senior Championship) and were selected as they were members of the county’s squad that season (2017–2018)
Half backs performed a higher number of sprints < 80% compared to full backs (p < 0.05, MD: 3 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0–6, effect sizes (ES) = 0.66)

Summary

Introduction

Hurling is a field-based stick and ball invasion-type team sport native to Ireland, which is played between two opposing teams of 15 players. The aim of the game is to outscore the opposition by striking the ball between the opposition’s goal posts [1], over the crossbar (1 point) or between and under the crossbar (3 points) [2,3]. The playing positions consist of 1 goalkeeper. The sprint profile of elite hurling competition

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Conclusion