Field Hockey Research Articles

Studying the characteristics of physical development of young athletes

Medical and biological support for the training of young athletes is a separate specific part of medical science and practice. This area of medicine includes determining the health and physical development of athletes, as well as diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and injuries associated with physical education and sports. The main goal of medical and biological support for children’s and youth sports is the harmonious development of the child within the chosen sport, taking into account his age characteristics, functionality, physical development, including puberty.Objective. The purpose of the study is to investigate the characteristics of the physical development of young athletes of various specializations.Materials and methods: 102 young teenage athletes took part in the study. The control group consisted of 28 schoolchildren who were not involved in sports professionally. The first group of the study included 35 young athletes from the «Children and Youth Sports School of Swimming». The second group of the study consisted of 47 teenagers, students of a specialized children’s and youth sports school of the Olympic reserve in field hockey. The third group of the study included 20 young athletes, students of a specialized children’s and youth sports school of Olympic reserve fencing.Results: In terms of physical development parameters, young athletes have indicators above the average values of children in the control group. The percentage of body fat in boys and girls in the control group was significantly higher than in young athletes. At the same time, the level of muscle mass of boys who do not engage in sports is lower than that of the group of athletes.Conclusions: Based on the results of the work, it was established that the physical development of young athletes has significant differences from their peers who do not play sports professionally.

Effects of Short-Term Plyometric Training on High-Intensity Movement-Related Variables in Elite Female Field Hockey Players Using Global Positioning System

Effects of Short-Term Plyometric Training on High-Intensity Movement-Related Variables in Elite Female Field Hockey Players Using Global Positioning System

A Comparison of Match External Load Demands Across Women's Collegiate Field Sports.

Kuhlman, NM, Jagim, AR, Jones, MT, Feit, MK, and Fields, JB. A comparison of match external load demands across women's collegiate field sports. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Historically, soccer (SOC), lacrosse (LAX), and field hockey (FH) have been grouped together as "field sports" due to their intermittent nature of match play and similar physiological demands. However, questions have emerged regarding potential variations in demands between sports. The purpose of this study was to compare external match workloads between collegiate women's SOC, LAX, and FH, and examine within-sport positional differences. Athletes (SOC: n = 15; LAX: n = 15; FH: n = 14) wore a global positioning system device during all matches throughout a competitive season. External load metrics included in the analysis were total distance (TD), sprint distance (SD), accelerations (>3 m·s-2), sprint efforts (SE), player load (PL), PL per minute (PL/min), top speed (m·s-1), and distances covered in select speed zones. Soccer performed higher external load volumes (TD, PL) (p ≤ 0.025) but incurred lower intensities (SD, SE, accelerations) (p < 0.001) compared with LAX and FH. Within-sport positional differences were apparent in SOC (p < 0.001-0.018), LAX (p < 0.001-0.045), and FH (p < 0.001-0.004). However, FH exhibited more positional variance in external load metrics compared with SOC or LAX. Field hockey midfielders covered greater volumes (TD, PL) compared with attackers and defenders (p < 0.001), while attackers sustained greater intensities (SD, SE, top speed) compared with midfielders and defenders (p < 0.004). Results indicate that there are significant differences in external workload parameters between sports and across positions. Practitioners should tailor sport-specific and position-specific programs to match demands, and future research should explore the proposed categorizations of LAX as a "fast collision invasion sport," FH as a "fast contact invasion sport," and SOC as a "slow contact invasion sport."

Functional knee stability in elite field hockey depends on playing class and gender

Field hockey, a physically demanding Olympic sport, carries a high risk of lower limb injuries, yet data on injury risk in elite field hockey are limited. Functional knee stability is important for injury prevention and a safe return to sport. This study is the first to investigate functional knee stability in elite field hockey, considering gender and playing class, and establishes reference data for functional knee stability by using a standardized test battery that assesses one- and two-legged stability, jumping tests, speed, and agility. 72 elite field hockey players, 30 males and 42 females (age 19.82 ± 3.74 years) were divided into High Playing Class (HPC) and Moderate Playing Class (MPC). HPC players showed significant better performance in all functional tests except balance tests (p &lt;0.01-0.024). Females showed significantly better one- and two-leg stability (p &lt;0.01) with lower injury rates, indicating the relevance of gender considerations. The study emphasizes the importance of balance and stability in the prevention of lower limb injuries in Olympic field hockey and also highlights the importance of considering pre-existing deficits in functional knee capability when assessing athletes for return to sport. These results can help improve athletic performance, identify individual strengths and weaknesses, prevent injury or re-injury, and facilitate return to sport after injury.

Positional assessment of Concentration among Mysore University Inter-collegiate Male Hockey Players

The Purpose of this investigation was to explore the level of Concentration between different positional play of Mysore University Inter-Collegiate Male Hockey players, the aged between 18 to 22 years. The researcher has randomly selected 165 Male Field Hockey Players those who were Participated in Mysore city inter collegiate Hockey tournament and those who are practicing regularly. The researcher was classified the total samples into eleven (11) categories according to positional play, such as Center forward, right in and right out, Left in and Left out, Center Mid, Right and Left Mid, Left defender, Right &amp; Left Defender and Goal Keeper and the samples were consisted fifteen (N=15) for each position. The Knox Cube imitation test was administered to know the level of concentration among selected subjects. In order to examine the hypotheses of the study one-way ANOVA test was used for multiple comparisons between mean scores of players in different positions for variables of concentration. The findings of the investigation showed that, the Concentration level was found to be higher for goal keeper than the other positional players. Whereas, the left midfielder had low level of concentration when compare with others which was clearly indicated that, there were significant differences in concentration of selected field hockey players with positional wise. On the basis of the present investigation, it will be summarized that the concentration was influencing by different positional play.

Influence of Positional Play on Intelligence Ability of Mysuru University Inter-collegiate Male Hockey Players

The purpose of the study was to explore the Influence of positional play on the intelligence ability of University Inter-collegiate male hockey players. The researcher selected 165 male field hockey players who represented Mysore city inter collegiate and Chamundi zone championships. The player were selected by positional play, such as forwards (N=75), midfielders (N=45), fullbacks (N=30) and goal keepers (N=15) and they were assessed for intelligence ability. The subjects were assembled and explained the procedure and purpose of the tests before the administration of the tests. They were administered Raven’s progressive matrices Intelligence test for intelligence. To find out the influence of positional play, One-way ANOVA and Scheffe’s post hoc tests for multiple comparisons between mean scores of players in different positions was applied for intelligence scores. The results revealed that, the Goal keepers had the maximum scores in Intelligence compared to other players playing in other positions and Positional play did not influence extent of errors both in ascending and descending series. Goal keepers were found to be better in intelligence, than the players in other playing positions. Goal keepers had the maximum intelligence scores, followed by Centre midfielder, Right defender, Left defender, others are placed in between and Left midfielder having the least intelligence scores.

Neuromuscular training in shod or barefoot conditions equally improved performance in female youth field hockey player: A randomized controlled trial

A growing body of literature addresses the public and scientific interest in barefoot locomotion as an alternative to footwear for running and enhancing physical performance. Little is known about the effects of barefoot training in youth team sport athletes. This randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a nine-week neuromuscular warm-up program (20 minutes twice per week) on balance, functional jumping, speed, acceleration, and agility, in female youth field hockey players. Players (16.2 ± 1.2 years) from three teams from a high school volunteered, consented to participation and were randomly assigned to either a barefoot or shod intervention group. Mixed model ANOVAs were conducted with the full data set of 34 participants as random effects (to account for repeated measurements), and intervention, time, limb side as fixed effects. No statistically significant differences (p &gt; 0.05) were found between the two groups on performance outcomes with small (ES ≥ 0.2) to medium (ES ≥ 0.4) effect sizes. Both groups significantly improved (p &lt; 0.05) their performance pre- to post-intervention in all tests. Performing the warm-up program barefoot or shod appeared to be equally effective to improve physical performance in habitually barefoot youth athletes.

Relationship between Repeated Sprint Ability and Force–Velocity Profile in Elite and Subelite Female Field Hockey Players

This study aimed to compare two female field hockey teams of different competitive levels by analyzing kinematic variables in repeated sprint ability (RSA) tests and the force-velocity profile (FVP). Twenty-five female hockey players representing the elite and subelite levels from the same club volunteered to participate. The RSA protocol included six 30 m maximal sprints with a 30 s recovery. Kinematic variables, such as sprint time, step frequency, and step length, were analyzed for each sprint. Additionally, players performed counter-movement jumps (CMJs) and CMJs with 50% body weight (CMJ50s) to calculate the FV50 using the Bosco Index. The elite players showed better (≈2%; p &lt; 0.05) fatigue indexes in sprint time (0–30 m and 0–10 m sections), step length (0–10 m, 10–20 m, and 20–30 m sections), and step frequency (20–30 m section) during the RSA test, as well as greater values (&gt;10%; p &lt; 0.05) in the CMJ50 and FV50 tests. In addition, these RSA (sprint time, step frequency, and step length) and jumping (CMJ, CMJ50, and FV50) variables showed a moderate, significant, or very significant relationship with each other. Therefore, it seems that both strength and speed capacities can be used either in conjunction or as a complementary approach to enhance the overall RSA performance.

An Olympic Fairytale: The Zimbabwean Women’s Field Hockey Victory at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games

In July 1980, an all-white Zimbabwean women’s hockey team made history by unexpectedly winning gold at the Olympic Games in Moscow. The 1980 games had been overshadowed by cold war political tensions which manifested in the boycott by several western countries in protest over the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. This politicization of the Olympics set the stage for Zimbabwe’s participation and the eventual politicization of the women’s field hockey victory. This victory was unexpected partially because the Zimbabwean women’s field hockey team had very little time to prepare for the tournament. The ramifications of the victory extended beyond the playing field as it became intertwined with racial and gender discourses that dominated the post-independence political narrative. Therefore, the events connected with this 1980 Olympic victory by the Zimbabwean women’s hockey team demonstrate how the victory transformed women’s field hockey from being a relatively obscure white minority sport, into a critical social space where political rhetoric was enunciated. This effectively increased the standing of the sport in the eyes of the ruling ZANU PF regime as demonstrated by investment in hockey infrastructure as well as attempts to continue its association with the 1980 Olympic victory.

Training Parameters That Influence Heart Rate Recovery In Collegiate Field Hockey Players

Training Parameters That Influence Heart Rate Recovery In Collegiate Field Hockey Players

Supplements, Training And Recovery Aids Used By 2022 Masters Field Hockey World Cup Participants

Supplements, Training And Recovery Aids Used By 2022 Masters Field Hockey World Cup Participants

National Rates Of Protective Eye Goggle Use In Girls’ High School Varsity Field Hockey

National Rates Of Protective Eye Goggle Use In Girls’ High School Varsity Field Hockey

In-Season Cardiovascular Improvement Of Collegiate Field Hockey Players

In-Season Cardiovascular Improvement Of Collegiate Field Hockey Players

Results of Indoor Hockey Training on Mastery of Dribble Techniques in Hockey Games

The purpose of the study. Mastery of fundamental techniques in hockey is essential for players. Mastery enables player cooperation to achieve the game's objective. Key techniques include dribbling and pushing the ball, applicable in both indoor and field hockey. These techniques are vital for effective gameplay. In indoor hockey, only dribbling techniques are permitted according to regulations. Practice enhances dribbling skills, requiring repetitive training. This study aims to compare indoor and field hockey training effectiveness on dribbling mastery. Materials and methods. An experimental method was employed, utilizing 24 athletes from Sambas Hockey Club, divided into two groups. Results. The results indicate a significant improvement in dribbling technique mastery in the indoor training group. Conclusions. The research concludes that indoor hockey training significantly enhances basic dribbling technique mastery compared to field hockey training.

Frequency of anterior cruciate ligament injuries and their risk factors in young athletes attended at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center of the city of Rosario (Argentina) in the year 2023

Introduction: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most important stabilizers of the knee that prevents anterior translation of the tibia over the femur. ACL injuries commonly occur during sports and are usually caused by sudden stops or changes in direction during running, jumping and landing.Objective: To describe the frequency of anterior cruciate ligament injuries and their risk factors in young athletes attended at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center of the city of Rosario (Argentina) in the year 2023.Materials and methods: Quantitative, descriptive, observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study, carried out at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center (COT) from April to September 2023. The population consisted of all patients aged between 18 and 25 years, regardless of sex, who practice high-impact sports on the knee and who consulted for knee injury. The collection instrument was the medical records. The variables were summarized through central position measures (mean) and dispersion measures (range and standard deviation) and expressed in absolute and relative frequency.Results: Thirty medical records were analyzed, of which 100% presented some ACL injury. The mean age was 21.57 ± 2.30 years, 67% were male and 33% female. Regarding the type of injury, 63% presented sprain and 37% tear. Twenty-seven percent played field hockey and rugby respectively, 20% played soccer, 13% basketball, 10% tennis and 3% volleyball. The risk factors associated with ACL injuries found in the studied population were among the intrinsic (50%) the neuromuscular deficit (37%) and genetic risk (13%); while among the extrinsic (23%) were the type of footwear (13%) used and the surface of the field (10%).Conclusions: Patients with ACL injuries evaluated were on average 21.57 ± 2.30 years old with a male: female ratio of 2:1. The most common symptoms were walking instability, edema, swelling, and pain. The most common sports associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries were field hockey, rugby and soccer. Neuromuscular deficit, genetic risk, improper footwear and unstable field surface were found to be risk factors

Sports Narratives and Historical Nationalism: Re-Visiting the Context and Use of Field Hockey in Chak De! India

Indian cinema is known for its dramatic narratives that celebrate emotionally elevated visual spectacles through which people from different sociocultural backgrounds come across popular domains of cultural practices, social norms and historical realities that unify them. Field hockey belongs to the popular realm of sports in India which is part of the country’s national identity. India’s participation and success in field hockey at the Olympic Games make it one of the country’s most successful international sports. Indian film narratives about field hockey help to create public discourse about how the sport has historically played a role in shaping national pride and identity in India. Hockey evokes nationalism by symbolizing historical achievements, unity, and cultural identity, inspiring pride and patriotism through the portrayal of heroes, national symbols, and emotional narratives in media and public discourse. The film Chak De! India portrays Indian hockey as a patriotic unifying national narrative and as an empowering discourse that can upend traditional gender stereotypes. It delineates that hockey not only acts as a sports game for entertainment but is an indicator of nationalistic significance and cultural identity that elevates the emotional realm of Indians through the notion of patriotism.

Enhancing Physical Fitness in Elite Field Hockey Players with A Twelve-Week Functional Training Program: A Cluster Randomized Control Trial.

This study aimed to explore the impact of functional training on the physical fitness of young elite field hockey players. The study comprised 40 young elite male field hockey players with the following characteristics (mean ± SD age: 21.5 ± 0.8 years; height: 176.9 ± 2.6 cm; weight: 68.4 ± 5.1 kg; BMI: 21.8 ± 1.3; training experience: 51.2 ± 5.4 months). Twenty participants were allocated to two groups: the functional training group (FTG) and the control training group (CG). Each group received 60-minute training sessions three times per week for 12 weeks. Generalized estimating equation analysis and a Bonferroni test for pairwise comparisons were used to assess the intervention's efficacy. Before the start of the exercise program, no statistically significant differences were observed in physical fitness measures between the FTG and CG (p > 0.05). However, by the sixth week, a significant difference appeared in both the T-Agility test (p < 0.001) and endurance (p = 0.024) between the two groups, while no notable distinctions were detected in other fitness parameters (p > 0.05). After a 12-week training program, the FTG demonstrated improvements in all physical fitness measures [flexibility (p < 0.001); Illinois agility test (p < 0.001); T-agility test (p = 0.020); endurance (p < 0.001)] except speed, which exhibited no significant impact (p = 0.175). Notable enhancements in T-agility and endurance were evident after just six weeks of functional training, and a 12-week functional training regimen showed superiority over standard training approaches in young elite male field hockey players. These findings encourage the efficacy of functional training exercises over traditional methods in enhancing athletes' fitness parameters.

Effects of High Intensity Interval Training Program on Individual Movement during Competition in Field Hockey Players

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a field hockey-specific training program based on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and to verify its effectiveness by observing changes in individual movements during international competitions for female field hockey players.METHODS: The field hockey-specific training program was developed based on HIIT (≥95%HRmax, work:rest ratio=1:1) through meetings with experts’ and the participation of 13 female field hockey players who were enrolled in the Korean national team. Participants were trained for nine weeks (27 sessions) using this training program. Their individual movements were collected using GPS units during the Four Nations competitions and the 2022 Asian Games before and after applying the training program. Individual movements were defined as total distance covered, meters per minute (MpM), maximal velocity (MV), absolute distance, proportion of total distance covered at low-intensity (LI), moderate-intensity (MI), and high-intensity (HI), and number of accelerations, decelerations, and sprint efforts (SE).RESULTS: After applying the training program, the MpM (9.6 m/min), MV (0.69 km/hr), and SE (3.47 bouts) improved compared to before applying the program. Further, after applying the training program, the absolute distance (633.94 m) and the proportion (14.83%) at LI decreased, while those of MI (553.40 m and 9.78%) and HI (273.07 m and 5.05%) increased compared to before applying the program.CONCLUSIONS: The field hockey-specific training program developed in this study resulted in positive changes in individual movements during competitions, leading to improvements in team and individual performance.

Programming the Stage of Direct Preparation and Participation in the Main Competitions of the Sports Season for Highly Qualified Field Hockey Players

Programming the Stage of Direct Preparation and Participation in the Main Competitions of the Sports Season for Highly Qualified Field Hockey Players

The role of source attractiveness and source credibility in advertising field hockey: a minority sport

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the extent to which source attractiveness and source credibility (or skill in a sporting context) provide an effective marketing strategy for Field Hockey in New Zealand, a minority sport Minority sports struggle to generate capital and have minimal sponsorship backing due to small participation and viewership rates compared to “major sports”. By understanding how source attractiveness and source credibility work in the context of a minority sport such as hockey, more effective advertising towards target audiences can be achieved. We also consider differences between advertising to players and no-players of the sport. This is the first research to consider these issues.Design/methodology/approachFour advertisements were created in an experimental design that manipulated the two variables: source credibility and source attractiveness, in an advertisement promoting Hockey. A survey was conducted, using an online questionnaire.FindingsResults show that a mixture physical attractiveness and skill (credibility) increase attitudes towards the advertisement. This results in positive intentions to both watch and play hockey. When the respondents were segmented into hockey players and non-hockey players, only skill is effective for the Hockey Player segment, whereas both skill and attractiveness are effective for non-players.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should include comparing hockey to further minority sports codes. Additionally, understanding if male models created the same effects would be particularly interesting for further research.Practical implicationsManagement should focus on skill, with physical attractiveness being considered, but not as the most important attribute. If targeting hockey players, skill needs to be especially visible. Even though these elements could be argued to be within the “proverbial eye of the beholder”, the results have shown that in terms of sports advertising, it is possible to portray these two attributes in a generalised way.Originality/valueThis research to focuses on source credibility and attractiveness in a minority sporting context, in particular field hockey, whereas the majority of research considers major sporting codes. In addition, involvement with the sport is also considered.