Search

The current study aimed to quantify the match-play workload in elite male under 17 hurlers, measuring the differences between the first and second halves and between positions. Global positioning system (10-Hz) and heart rate monitors were used to collect data from 76 players during 18 matches. Players' total distance (TD), relative distance (RD), high-speed running (HSR), the number and length of sprints, and the total sprint distance (TSD) was 6,483 ± 1,145 m, 108 ± 19 m$min21, 583 ± 215 m, 18 ± 6, 15 ± 3 m, and 272 ± 77 m, respectively. Peak and mean heart rate were 194 ± 8 b·min-1 and 167 ± 4 b·min-1, respectively. Decrements in TD (p< 0.001, effect size [ES] = 0.72), RD (p< 0.001, ES = 0.72), HSR (p< 0.001, ES = 0.55), the number of sprints (p< 0.001, ES = 0.57), mean length of sprint (p< 0.011, ES = 0.25), TSD (p< 0.001, ES = 0.69), mean heart rate (p< 0.001, ES = 0.35), and peak heart rate (p< 0.001, ES = 0.52) were found between halves. Largely-to-very largely greater TD, RD, and HSR were covered by midfielders, half-backs, and halfforwards compared with full-backs and full-forwards. No between-position difference was found in peak and mean heart rate. The current results are the first to highlight the differences in external and internal position-specific workload in elite male under 17 hurlers. Coaches need to consider the positionspecific demands and between-half drop-off to prepare young hurlers appropriately to repeat the match-play performances of competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which was conducted to investigate the most intense period of high intensity running during elite soccer matches. Researchers evaluated 100 players with a multicamera computerized tracking system. They found that high-intensity running, work- rest ratios and average high-intensity distances changed markedly during the most intense period of matches and were dependent on playing position.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition (BC) and physical performance (PP) in male collegiate soccer players and differences among positions and between starters and non-starters. Twenty-seven male collegiate soccer players were tested at the beginning of the 2003-2004 season (age = 19.9 ± 1.3 years, height = 177.6 ± 6.3 cm, body mass = 77.5 ± 9.2 kg, body fat (BF) = 10.6 ± 5.8 kg, and %BF = 13.9 ± 5.8%). BC, vertical jump (VJ), speed (S), lower-body and total body power production (TPW), and estimated O2max were measured. Values found for BC were similar than the ones in the literature. Significant correlations were found between BC and PP ranging from -0.38 to 0.61 for weight, VJ, S, TPW, and O2max. BF showed a positive correlation with S(r = 0.60) and a negative correlation with O2max (r = -0.67). The values for BC and PP were similar in starters and non-starters with only TPW showing a significantly greater value in starters. It is apparent that all members of a team train to play owing to the long seasons and substitutions, and a high level of excellence is demanded of both starters and non-starters alike. Training programs that equally benefit both groups are important in soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]