Evaluating Physical Workload by Position During Match in Elite Bandy

J Strength Cond Res. 2018 Sep;32(9):2616-2622. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002551.

Abstract

Blomqvist, S, Ervasti, PE, and Elcadi, GH. Evaluating physical workload by position during match in elite bandy. J Strength Cond Res 32(9): 2616-2622, 2018-To improve current understandings of physical workload (WL) in elite bandy, 10 bandy players were monitored for heart rate (HR) during 13 matches over 1 championship season. Participants were divided into 5 subgroups according to playing position-libero, defender, halves, midfielder, and forward. Heart rate measurements were analyzed with 2 different methods to compute physical WL-(a) percentage of total time spent in different HR zones (HRres) and (b) WL based on the Edwards method. Also determined was the time spent at HR levels above the lactate threshold (LT). A one-way analysis of variance was used for analysis. For WL, according to the Edwards method, significant differences (p = 0.05) were shown between the groups with defenders presenting the highest scores, and forwards and liberos the lowest. A significant difference (p = 0.05) was found between liberos and halves and the other positions as to how much time they spent in zone 70-80% of HRres. In 91-100% of HRres, there was a distinct difference between defenders and the other positions and also forwards differed significantly from liberos, defenders, and halves (p = 0.05). The libero spent only 1% of the time over the LT, whereas the midfielder spent approximately 27% of the time over the LT. Overall, defenders showed the greatest WL during a match and liberos the lowest. The practical implications of these findings can help coaches and trainers design training methods specific to each position and individualized training sessions for each player in elite bandy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / blood
  • Male
  • Sports / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Lactic Acid