International Competition Kinematic Demands in Male Field Hockey

The objective of this research was to describe kinematic characteristics during international men’s field hockey matches. Sixteen players (age: 25.12±3.66 years; height: 177.12±4.96 cm; weight: 72.45±5.01 kg; caps: 79.12 ±78.96) belonging to the Spanish national team were monitored by means of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and accelerometry in the course of five matches in the 2017 European Championships. The analyses were performed by game quarter (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4), positions (defenders, midfielders and forwards) and minutes played (per match). The data analysed included distances, accelerations and decelerations in different ranges of intensity. Defenders presented less high-intensity kinematic activity (speeds, number of sprints, metres/ min) as opposed to midfielders and forwards. The by-quarter analysis showed that Q1 featured the highest kinematic activity for all positions. With regard to minutes played, the cluster analysis placed the players in three groups ( 48 minutes). The players who played <37 minutes travelled the largest amount of metres sprinting (>21 kph) and m/min as compared to other groups, whereas those who played between 37-48 minutes travelled the greatest distance at high-intensity (>16 kph) and performed the greatest number of sprints. The study results show that the physical demands on elite field hockey players depend on their position on the field and playing time, with greater activity in Q1 and with less relative high-intensity kinematic activity in players who play most minutes during the match.