Maximal Intensity Periods During International Male Field Hockey

Abstract

In this retrospective cohort study, we examined maximal intensity periods (MIPs) for a broad range of movement characteristics during international field hockey. Further, we examined the intensity of near-peak periods, and whether peak demands for different movement characteristics occurred simultaneously. Player movement data from 28 Australian elite male field hockey players were obtained via wearable tracking devices in four international tournaments over 13 months (n = 393 player-matches). MIPs were identified via the rolling-sum method for mean speed, high-speed distance (> 5 m·s⁻¹), accelerations (> 2.5 m·s²), decelerations (< − 2.5 m·s²) and high-speed cuts (45° change of direction and > 5 m·s⁻¹) across eight epochs (range: 5 s–5 min). Random effects linear mixed models were used to estimate means for each movement characteristic, with random intercepts fitted for players and matches. Mean speed was ∼80% higher during the 1 min MIP (210 m·min⁻¹) than the match average (116 m·min⁻¹) and players regularly reached high mean speeds (for instance, the 10th most intense minute was still ∼44% above match average). High-speed distance, accelerations and decelerations accumulated > 5x faster during the 1 min MIP for those variables than the match average and high-speed cuts occurred with ∼10x greater frequency. During the 1 min MIP for total distance, all other movement characteristics were less than 40% of the 1 min MIP for that variable (except high-speed distance: 76%). Match averages substantially underestimate the MIPs of elite field hockey. Practitioners should consider analysing the peak periods of matches, with a focus on high-intensity movements, to inform monitoring and prescription of team sport-specific training.