Trimps For Forwards And Defensemen During Ice Hockey Games On Different Sized Rinks On Consecutive Days

Abstract

The scientific understanding of the physiological load during practices and competitions is quite limited. While sports coaches may be able to assess the stresses and cumulative fatigue of their players, these perceptions can be biased and inaccurate. Therefore, a need exists to develop a method of determining acute and cumulative loads throughout a sports season. The Training Impulse (TRIMP) method was devised for this purpose and has been recently revised by Stagno, et, al. (2007) for use with team sports. To compare TRIMP values for forwards and defensemen during ice hockey games on different sized rinks on consecutive days using the new team-based TRIMP formula. Our hypothesis was that TRIMP scores would be greater for the game on the larger ice surface as more area must be covered. The six participants (mean age: 15.7 + 0.5 years) were forwards and defensemen playing on a regionally elite male ice hockey team. Heart rates were collected by a heart rate system that records and saves the data within a chest strap. Two games played on consecutive days (on the 19th week of a 29 week season) on different sized ice rinks were monitored. Game 1 (G1) was played on a rink that measured 200 × 85 feet, while the rink for Game 2 (G2) measured 200 × 100 feet. Each game began with a twenty minute on-ice warm-up. During G1 the ice was resurfaced between all periods. During G2, a short break was taken between the 1st and 2nd periods and the ice was resurfaced between the 2nd and 3rd periods. The TRIMPs were calculated for warm-ups, resurfacing times and playing time. Data is presented for the total time period (from the warm-up to the end of the game) and for the game period (only while the game was in progress). Data are presented in table below: Our research hypothesis was based on the logic that playing on a larger ice surface would lead to greater TRIMPs. This was not found to be true. G1 produced greater TRIMPs and greater TRIMPs per minute than G2 even though the second game was on the larger ice surface. TRIMP values for G2 may have been lower as it was the second game within a 24 hour period. While the athletes are used to playing two or three games during a two-day weekend, the second game may have lower TRIMP values due to fatigue. Thus fatigue may influence TRIMPs more than rink size. Further analyses of other game weekends may indicate a trend. As there is now a heart rate monitoring system that will capture data without the need for an external data capturing module, it is now more feasible to obtain heart rate data from team sports such as hockey and soccer. Since the revised TRIMP formula only requires heart rate data, it can now be used by coaches to track physiological loads during practice sessions and competitions. For coaches and trainers that are concerned about unintended overreaching/overtraining, this method may be a beneficial component to add to their tracking system.