An Analysis of Acceleration, Deceleration and High-Intensity Skating during Elite Bandy Match-Play: A Case Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Understanding physical workload is crucial for optimizing performance and injury prevention in sports.
• Bandy, a high-intensity ice sport, requires detailed analysis of player movements.
• Quantifying acceleration, deceleration, and skating intensity is key to assessing bandy match-play demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physical workload of elite bandy players during match-play.
• To describe changes in acceleration, deceleration, and high-intensity skating over time.
• To compare physical demands between the first and second halves and across 15-minute intervals.

Main Methods:

• Ten elite male bandy players participated in the study.
• Global Positioning System (GPS) units were used to collect data during 13 home matches.
• Measured variables included total distance, distance in speed zones, and distances for acceleration and deceleration.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in high-intensity acceleration or deceleration between halves or 15-minute intervals.
• A significant time-dependent decrease was observed in very fast skating, sprint skating, and total distance covered by halves.
• Low-intensity acceleration and deceleration also showed significant changes over time intervals, indicating altered movement patterns.

Conclusions:

• Elite bandy players do not exhibit a time-dependent reduction in high-intensity acceleration and deceleration during matches.
• Despite maintaining acceleration/deceleration intensity, players cover less high-intensity skating distance as the match progresses.
• These findings highlight the importance of monitoring skating intensity and overall distance to manage bandy player fatigue and performance.