Tracking of wheelchair rugby players in the 2008 Demolition Derby trial

The kinematics of male wheelchair rugby players (n = 8) during the final match of the 2008 Demolition Derby were assessed using two cameras (10 Hz) and a tracking method based on image-processing techniques. The players' on-court trajectory, total and accumulated distances covered, distances covered during working and stopped game clock, and average velocity were calculated. The players covered 2294.7 +/- 391.5 m in the first half and 2245.4 +/- 431.5 m in the second half. The average velocity was 14.5% greater in the first (1.22 +/- 0.21 m . s(-1)) than in the second half (1.05 +/- 0.20 m . s(-1)). The reduction in velocity was most marked in players with less functional capacity. The working game clock represented 48% of total game time (32 of 66.8 minutes) and the distance covered by all players during working game clock was 60% of the overall distance covered during the whole game (36,323 m). The results provide new information regarding the dynamics of a wheelchair rugby match and should aid coaches in planning effective training and coaching strategies.