GPS ANALYSIS OF ELITE WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY
TRAINING AND COMPETITION
TIM J. GABBETT
Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club, Red Hill, Queensland, Australia
ABSTRACT
Gabbett, TJ. GPS analysis of elite women’s field hockey training
and competition. J Strength Cond Res 24(5): 1321–1324,
2010—This study investigated the physiological demands of
women’s field hockey competition and compared these
demands to those experienced during game-based training
activities. Fourteen elite women field hockey players (mean 6
SD; age, 23.3 6 3.2 years; maximal oxygen consumption,
53.5 6 4.3 mlkg21min21) participated in this study. Global
positioning satellite (GPS) system analysis was completed
during 19 training appearances and 32 Australian Hockey
League (AHL) appearances. All training sessions consisted of
game-based activities (i.e., small-sided training games) that
were played on a reduced-sized pitch. Movement was recorded
by a global positioning satellite unit sampling at 5 Hz. Data were
categorized into discreet movement velocity bands, corresponding to low-intensity (0–1 ms21), moderate-intensity (1–3 ms21
and 3–5 ms21), and high-intensity (5–7 ms21 and .7 ms21)
activities. Players covered 6.6 km (range: 3.4–9.5 km) over the
course of the match. Midfielders spent more time and covered
greater distances in high-intensity running (i.e., .5 ms21) than
strikers and defenders. The number of high-velocity and highacceleration efforts over the course of a match was greater
in midfielders. In comparison to competition, game-based
training sessions resulted in more time spent in low-intensity
(i.e., 0–1 ms21) activities and less time spent in moderate (i.e.,
1–3 ms21 and 3–5 ms21) and high-intensity (i.e., 5–7 ms21
and .7 ms21) activities. Although game-based training is likely
to be useful for improving the skill levels of players, the skill
activities used in the present study did not reflect the
physiological demands of competition, with players spending
more time in low-intensity activities and less time in highintensity activities than competition. Modifications in training
Address correspondence to Dr. Tim J. Gabbett, [email protected].
24(5)/1321–1324
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Ó 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association
group size and/or drill design and complexity may better
simulate the physiological demands of competition.
KEY WORDS physiological demands, movement patterns, team
sports, field sports, sprinting
INTRODUCTION
I
t is well-documented that the greatest training benefits
occur when the training stimulus simulates the movement patterns and physiological demands of the sport
(8). Based on this premise, coaches are increasingly
using game-based training activities (e.g., small-sided games)
as a means of improving the skill and physical fitness levels of
team sport athletes (1–5,7). The use of game-based activities
as training drills allows the simulation of movement patterns
of team sports, while maintaining a competitive environment
where athletes must perform under pressure and fatigue
(2,4,7). Perhaps more importantly, game-based training offers
an additional challenge to team sport athletes that would
not normally be present in nonskill-related conditioning
activities (2).
The amount of high-intensity running performed during
a match has been shown to be an important discriminator
of elite and subelite team sport athletes (6). Previous studies
of high-intensity intermittent team sports (e.g., soccer, field
hockey) have reported that players cover 9–12 km and
perform 19–62 sprints in a match (4,9). Whereas the large
variability in physiological demands between studies may
reflect differences in competitive standard, sports, and/or
gender, it is also possible that the discrepancy between
studies reflects the subjective description of locomotor
activities, using video time-motion analysis (4,10). With the
introduction of global positioning satellite (GPS) technology,
sport scientists and conditioning coaches are able to gain
specific information on the distances covered in low- and
high-intensity activities and, the sprinting velocities achieved
by these athletes during training and competition. However,
to date no study has documented the physiological demands
of game-based training activities and competition in elite
team sport athletes using GPS technology. With this in mind,
the purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological
demands of specific positional playing groups (i.e., strikers,
midfielders, and defenders) in elite field hockey players using
GPS technology. Furthermore, these demands were
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GPS Analysis in Women’s Field Hockey
TABLE 1. Time spent in discreet velocity bands in elite women’s field hockey competition.
Striker
Velocity (ms21)
0 to 1
1 to 3
3 to 5
5 to 7
.7
Total
Midfielder
Defender
Time (s)
Time (%)
Time (s)
Time (%)
Time (s)
2,934 6 339
1,697 6 104
530 6 66
76 6 34
667
5,242 6 289
55.9 6 3.6
32.4 6 2.6
10.2 6 1.8
1.4 6 0.7
0.1 6 0.1
100.0 6 0.0
2,674 6 586
1,901 6 566
595 6 145
101 6 42
11 6 9
5,247 6 620
50.6 6 11.7
35.9 6 8.9
11.3 6 2.5
1.9 6 0.8
0.2 6 0.2
100.0 6 0.0
2,423 6 577
2,094 6 481
487 6 153
66 6 30
768
5,078 6 1004
Time (%)
47.8 6
41.2 6
9.6 6
1.3 6
0.1 6
100.0 6
6.7
4.9
2.4
0.5
0.2
0.0
Data are mean 6 SD.
compared with those experienced during training consisting
entirely of game-based activities.
METHODS
Experimental Approach to the Problem
In the present study, the physiological demands of elite
women’s field hockey competition were investigated, and
these demands were compared with those experienced
during training consisting entirely of game-based training
activities. We hypothesized that game-based training would
offer a specific training stimulus to simulate the physiological
demands of elite standard competition.
Subjects
Fourteen elite women field hockey players (mean 6 SD; age,
23.3 6 3.2 years; maximal oxygen consumption, 53.5 6 4.3
mlkg21min21) participated in this study. Athletes were
scholarship holders within the Queensland Academy of
Sport women’s field hockey program or members of the
Australian Hockeyroos women’s field hockey team. Players
had completed a 2-month general and special preparatory
program consisting of continuous aerobic and interval
running in addition to speed training prior to the study.
Consequently, all participants were in peak physical
condition and free from injury at the time of the study. All
participants received a clear explanation of the study,
including the risks and benefits of participation, and written
consent was obtained. The Institutional Review Board for
Human Investigation approved all experimental procedures.
GPS Analysis
Competition. GPS system analysis was completed during
19 training appearances and 32 Australian Hockey League
(AHL) appearances. The AHL is an elite standard field
hockey competition and is the highest standard of field
hockey competition within Australia. The Australian Hockey
League is a physically demanding competition that requires
players to compete in 2 matches on consecutive days and
often requires teams to travel considerable distances (i.e. flight
time between 1 and 5 hours) to opposition venues.
Game-Based Training. During the specific preparatory phase of
training, coaches used game-based training (i.e., small-sided
training games played on a reduced-sized pitch) to improve
physical qualities, technical skill, and decision-making. Only
TABLE 2. Distance covered in discreet velocity bands in elite women’s field hockey competition.
Striker
Midfielder
Velocity (ms21)
Distance (m)
Distance (%)
Distance (m)
0 to 1
1 to 3
3 to 5
5 to 7
.7
Total
728 6 231
3,017 6 247
1,941 6 198
423 6 195
46 6 57
6,154 6 271
11.8 6 3.3
49.1 6 5.0
31.5 6 2.3
6.9 6 3.0
0.8 6 1.0
100.0 6 0.0
681 6 243
3,422 6 989
2,181 6 558
571 6 244
77 6 69
6,931 6 1882
Data are mean 6 SD.
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Defender
Distance (%)
9.8 6
49.3 6
31.7 6
8.2 6
1.1 6
100.0 6
1.8
2.6
2.4
2.7
1.0
0.0
Distance (m)
841 6
3,618 6
1,763 6
369 6
52 6
6,643 6
229
821
566
178
62
1618
Distance (%)
12.8 6 2.4
54.8 6 3.5
26.2 6 3.4
5.5 6 1.7
0.8 6 0.9
100.0 6 0.0
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TABLE 3. Number of high-velocity and high-acceleration efforts and typical distance covered in elite women’s field hockey
competition.
High-velocity activities*
High-acceleration activities*
Distance (m)
Striker
Midfielder
Defender
Striker
Midfielder
Defender
0 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 20
21 to 30
31 to 40
.40
Total
16 6 4
13 6 3
16 6 2
562
363
162
54 6 9
15 6 5
12 6 4
16 6 7
864
362
463
58 6 16
11 6
10 6
11 6
56
36
36
43 6
061
21 6 1
16 6 6
161
060
060
38 6 6
262
25 6 7
16 6 6
161
060
060
44 6 12
362
19 6 6
13 6 5
162
060
060
36 6 10
4
4
4
2
2
3
14
Data are mean 6 SD.
High-velocity activities, .5 ms21; high acceleration activities, .0.5 ms22 lasting for 2 or more seconds.
game-based training sessions that involved minimal coaching
stoppages were included in the training analysis. To account
for variations in individual matches and game-based training
sessions, data were collected from all matches played and
all game-based training sessions designed to simulate the
physiological demands of competition.
Movement was recorded by a GPS unit (minimaxX
Catapult Innovations, Melbourne, Australia) sampling at
5 Hz. The GPS signal provided information on speed,
distance, position, and acceleration. The GPS unit also
included triaxial accelerometers sampling at 100 Hz to
provide greater accuracy on speed and acceleration. The unit
was worn in a small vest, on the upper back of the players.
Data were categorized into discreet movement velocity
bands, corresponding to low-intensity (0–1 ms21), moderateintensity (1–3 ms21 and 3–5 ms21), and high-intensity (5–7
ms21 and .7 ms21) activities.
Statistical Analyses
Differences in the time spent and distance covered in low-,
moderate-, and high-intensity activities between competition
and game-based training activities were compared using an
independent t-test and Cohen’s effect size statistic. Effect
sizes of 0.2–0.6, 0.6–1.2, and .1.2 were considered small,
moderate, and large, respectively. The level of significance
was set at p # 0.05 and all data are reported as mean 6 SD.
RESULTS
Physiological Demands of
Competition
On average, players covered
6.6 km (range: 3.4–9.5 km) over
the course of the match. Midfielders spent more time and
covered greater distances in highintensity running (i.e., .5 ms21)
than strikers and defenders
(Tables 1 and 2). The number
of high-velocity and highacceleration efforts over the
course of a match was greater
in midfielders (Table 3).
Game-Based Training
Figure 1. Time spent in game-based training and competition.
In comparison to competition,
game-based training sessions
resulted in more time spent in
low-intensity (i.e., 0–1 ms21)
activities and less time spent in
moderate (i.e., 1–3 ms21 and
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GPS Analysis in Women’s Field Hockey
3–5 ms21) and high-intensity (i.e., 5–7 ms21 and .7 ms21)
activities (Figure 1).
DISCUSSION
This study investigated the physiological demands of
women’s field hockey competition and compared these
demands to those experienced during game-based training
activities. Although game-based training is likely to be useful
for improving the skill levels of players, the skill activities used
in the present study did not reflect the physiological demands
of competition, with players spending more time in lowintensity activities and less time in high-intensity activities
than competition. Modifications in training group size
and/or drill design and complexity may better simulate the
physiological demands of competition.
Whereas previous studies have investigated the physiological demands and movement patterns of various team
sport activities, a limitation of these studies rests in the
subjective description of locomotor activities, using video
time-motion analysis (4,10). The present study is the first to
investigate the physiological demands of competition and
game-based training activities in elite team sport athletes
using GPS technology. The total distance covered in
matches was 6.6 km (but up to 9.5 km) with players
spending 97.3% of total match play in low- to moderateintensity activities. However, low-intensity periods were
interspersed with frequent bouts of high-acceleration and
high-velocity movement activities. Although the present
findings demonstrate the need for a well-developed aerobic
capacity to allow athletes to cover this distance in a match
and to recover after high-intensity bouts of activity, they
also demonstrate the need for specific training of the
anaerobic alactic (ATP-CP) system in elite women field
hockey players.
The typical distances covered in high-velocity and highacceleration efforts were similar among playing positions
(i.e., typically up to 20 m). However, the absolute number of
high-intensity efforts and total distance covered in these
activities was greater in midfielders (102 efforts, 648 m) than
strikers (92 efforts, 469 m) and defenders (79 efforts, 421 m).
These findings emphasize the importance of individualizing
conditioning programs to meet the specific demands of the
different playing positions.
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PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Whereas game-based training is likely to be useful for
improving the skill levels of players, the skill activities used in
the present study did not reflect the physiological demands
of competition, with players spending more time in lowintensity activities and less time in high-intensity activities
than competition. Several practitioners have previously
shown that game-based training can be used effectively to
simulate the physiological demands of competition (4,7).
With this in mind, the present findings do not suggest that
small-sided training games are ineffective for field hockey;
rather, they provide insight to coaches into the specificity of
their training activities. These results suggest that modifications in training group size and/or drill design and
complexity may better simulate the physiological demands
of competition.
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