Accelerometer Load as a Measure of Activity Profile in Different Standards of Netball Match Play
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceClick name to view affiliation
Purpose:
To determine differences in load/min (AU) between standards of netball match play.
Methods:
Load/min (AU) representing accumulated accelerations measured by triaxial accelerometers was recorded during matches of 2 higher- and 2 lower-standard teams (N = 32 players). Differences in load/min (AU) were compared within and between standards for playing position and periods of play. Differences were considered meaningful if there was >75% likelihood of exceeding a small (0.2) effect size.
Results:
Mean (± SD) full-match load/min (AU) for the higher and lower standards were 9.96 ± 2.50 and 6.88 ± 1.88, respectively (100% likely lower). The higher standard had greater (mean 97% likely) load/min (AU) values in each position. The difference between 1st and 2nd halves’ load/min (AU) was unclear at the higher standard, while lower-grade centers had a lower (−7.7% ± 10.8%, 81% likely) load/min (AU) in the 2nd half and in all quarters compared with the 1st. There was little intrastandard variation in individual vector contributions to load/min (AU); however, higher-standard players accumulated a greater proportion of the total in the vertical plane (mean 93% likely).
Conclusions:
Higher-standard players produced greater load/min (AU) than their lower-standard counterparts in all positions. Playing standard influenced the pattern of load/min (AU) accumulation across a match, and individual vector analysis suggests that different-standard players have dissimilar movement characteristics. Load/min (AU) appears to be a useful method for assessing activity profile in netball.
Cormack is with the School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia. Smith, Young, and O’Brien are with the School of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, University of Ballarat, Ballarat, Australia. Mooney is with the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia.
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