Physiological Profile and Activity Pattern of Minor Gaelic Football Players

Abstract

Cullen, BD, Roantree, M, McCarren, A, Kelly, DT, O'Connor, PL, Hughes, SM, Daly, PG, and Moyna1, NM. Physiological profile and activity pattern of minor Gaelic football players. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1811-1820, 2017-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological profile and activity pattern in club- and county-level under-18 (U-18) Gaelic football players relative to playing position. Participants (n = 85) were analyzed during 17 official 15-a-side matches using global positioning system technology (SPI Pro X II; GPSports Systems, Canberra, Australia) and heart rate (HR) telemetry. During the second part of this study, 63 participants underwent an incremental treadmill test to assess their maximal oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]o2max) and peak HR (HRmax). Players covered a mean distance of 5,774 ± 737 m during a full 60-minute match. The mean %HRmax and %V[Combining Dot Above]O2max observed during the match play were 81.6 ± 4.3% and 70.1 ± 7.75%, respectively. The playing level had no effect on the distance covered, player movement patterns, or %HRmax observed during match play. Midfield players covered significantly greater distance than defenders (p = 0.033). Playing position had no effect on %HRmax or the frequency of sprinting or high-intensity running during match play. The frequency of jogging, cruise running, striding (p = 0.000), and walking (p = 0.003) was greater in the midfield position than in the forward position. Time had a significant effect (F(1,39) = 33.512, p-value = 0.000, and (Equation is included in full-text article.)= 0.462) on distance covered and %HRmax, both of which showed a reduction between playing periods. Gaelic football is predominantly characterized by low-to-moderate intensity activity interspersed with periods of high-intensity running. The information provided may be used as a framework for coaches in the design and prescription of training strategies. Positional specific training may be warranted given the comparatively greater demands observed in the midfield playing position. Replicating the demands of match play in training may reduce the decline in distance covered and %HRmax observed during the second half of match play.

Ecological validity of self-reported wellness measures to assess pre-training and pre-competition preparedness within elite Gaelic football

“…These aggregated scores allowed for a 'readiness to train' percentage (RTT %) to be automatically calculated for each player. The subjective internal and objective external demands of collective training were quantified using RPE [30] and GPS technology respectively [1,3,4,5,6,7]. All data were categorised across the full season but also for descriptive purposes categorised into three specific phases of pre-season (Jan-Feb 2017), early in-season (Mar-June 2017), and late in-season (July-Sept 2017).…”

“…Indeed, global positioning system analysis of athlete running performance has shown that these athletes cover an average distance of 8-10 km over 70 min therefore high levels of aerobic fitness are desirable [1,5,6]. However, key moments of match play such as gathering possession, evading opponents and breaking tackles demand well rounded physical qualities such as high-speed running capacity and repeated effort ability in addition to strength and power qualities [5,7]. The competition phase within elite Gaelic football runs from February-September during which teams compete for National League and All-Ireland Championship titles, playing up to 15 games between competitions [8].…”

Strength and Conditioning Recommendations for Female Athletes: The Gaelic Footballer

“…The use of heart rate (HR) measurement has been suggested to be an indirect measure of exercise intensity in female team sports (44). In male U18 GF, HRpeak was observed as 81.6 6 4.3% during 60 minutes of match play (36). In addition, in adult male GF, mean HRpeak values were reported as 192 6 9 b$min 21 and average HR as 162 6 10 b$min 21 (54).…”

A Narrative Review of the Link between Sport and Technology

“…Studies carried out with the help of GPS, in team sports, highlight that the level of play does not influence the distance covered, the movement patterns of the players, or the heart rate values [16] and that specific training, individualized by the positions that they occupy, is necessary for the players on the field. Thus, analyses of the physiological profile and the training level can be generated to influence the design of position-specific training in the field [17].…”