Time–motion analysis of elite field hockey, with special reference to repeated-sprint activity

TLDR

Limited information exists on elite field‑hockey players’ movement patterns during competition. The study aimed to document movement patterns and investigate repeated‑sprint activity during an international field‑hockey game. Fourteen Australian men’s national team players were filmed during a game and their movements were time‑motion analysed. Players spent most of the game walking, jogging or standing (≈46–41 % and 7 % respectively), with only 4 % striding and 1.5 % sprinting; repeated‑sprint bouts occurred 17 times (≈4 sprints each) with 95 % active recovery, indicating that elite field‑hockey demands resemble those of soccer, rugby and Australian Rules football.

Abstract

Limited information exists about the movement patterns of field-hockey players, especially during elite competition. Time-motion analysis was used to document the movement patterns during an international field-hockey game. In addition, the movement patterns of repeated-sprint activity were investigated, as repeated-sprint ability is considered to be an important fitness component of team-sport performance. Fourteen members of the Australian men's field-hockey team (age 26+/-3 years, body mass 76.7+/-5.6 kg, VO2max 57.9+/-3.6 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); mean+/-s) were filmed during an international game and their movement patterns were analysed. The majority of the total player game time was spent in the low-intensity motions of walking, jogging and standing (46.5+/-8.1, 40.5+/-7.0 and 7.4+/-0.9%, respectively). In comparison, the proportions of time spent in striding and sprinting were 4.1+/-1.1 and 1.5+/-0.6%, respectively. Our criteria for 'repeated-sprint' activity (defined as a minimum of three sprints, with mean recovery duration between sprints of less than 21 s) was met on 17 occasions during the game (total for all players), with a mean 4+/-1 sprints per bout. On average, 95% of the recovery during the repeated-sprint bouts was of an active nature. In summary, the results suggest that the motion activities of an elite field-hockey competition are similar to those of elite soccer, rugby and Australian Rules football. In addition, the investigation of repeated-sprint activity during competition has provided additional information about the unique physiological demands of elite field-hockey performance.