High-Intensity Accelerations and Decelerations During Intercounty Camogie Match Play.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare acceleration and deceleration demands of intercounty Camogie players, and differences across playing positions and halves of play.

HYPOTHESIS

The middle 3 positions will have greatest accelerations and decelerations variables across match play and halves of play.

STUDY DESIGN

Nonrandomized, repeated measures design.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

METHODS

Global positioning systems (GPS) (10 Hz) collected data from 28 participants during 18 competitive matches across 2 seasons; 206 individual player datasets were analyzed.

RESULTS

Half-backs ( < 0.05; effect size [ES], -1.75) and midfielders ( < 0.05; ES, -1.68) covered significantly greater total number of accelerations than full-forwards. In acceleration zone 4, midfielders ( < 0.05; ES, = -1.67) and half forwards covered a significantly greater number than full-forwards ( < 0.01; ES, = -1.41). Midfielders accumulated a significantly greater distance in acceleration zone 4 than full-backs ( < 0.05; ES, = -0.57). Significant decrements were observed between halves in total number of accelerations ( 0.01; ES, = 0.49), accelerations in zones 1 to 4 ( 0.01; ES, 0.16-0.43), total distance of accelerations, and acceleration distance in zones 2 to 4 ( 0.05; ES, 0.25; 0.01; ES, 0.45; 0.01; ES, 0.38). There were significant decrements in the total number of decelerations ( 0.01; ES, 0.43), number of decelerations in zones 2 ( 0.05; ES, 0.25), 3 ( 0.01; ES, 0.45), and 4 ( 0.01; ES, 0.38), and total deceleration distance ( 0.01; ES, 0.16).

CONCLUSION

Half-backs and midfielders covered significantly greater total number of accelerations than full-forwards. Significant decrements in several acceleration and deceleration variables were observed between halves.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Players competing in intercounty Camogie should receive progressive exposure to acceleration and deceleration-based movement demands to prepare players for intercounty Camogie match play.