Peak Running Intensities in Field Hockey - A Positional Analysis

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Field hockey involves dynamic, high-intensity intermittent activity.
• Understanding player movement patterns is crucial for performance optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify peak running periods in field hockey players using a moving average method.
• To analyze changes in peak running intensity across match quarters and playing positions.

Main Methods:

• A moving average method was employed to analyze player movement data.
• Peak running periods were assessed in 1-to-10-minute intervals.
• Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Main Results:

• Forwards exhibited the highest peak running intensity (194 ± 24.2 m·min⁻¹), followed by midfielders (189 ± 11.9 m·min⁻¹) and defenders (182.6 ± 17.9 m·min⁻¹).
• Running output plateaued after 7/8-minute intervals for all positions.
• Midfielders and defenders showed significant decreases in running output in later quarters compared to earlier ones.

Conclusions:

• Peak running intensity varies by playing position in field hockey.
• Player fatigue affects running performance in later stages of a match.
• Findings inform the design of targeted training drills, substitution strategies, and load management.