Physical demands of female collegiate lacrosse competition : Whole-match and peak periods analysis

Background
The use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) has provided Sports Scientists with the ability to investigate locomotive behavior in sport. With Lacrosse being the fastest growing sport in the USA, there is no GPS analysis available, in current literature, for female lacrosse competition.

Aims
This study aims to quantify the external outputs of women’s collegiate lacrosse competition and determine any positional differences.

Methods
Activity profiles were obtained, via GPS, from 14 players across 7 NCAA division-1 conference games. Total distance covered (metres), maximum velocity (m s−1), speed (m min−1), acceleration (m s−2), and metabolic power (PMET; W kg−1) were used to establish outputs throughout both periods of match-play. Peak values were obtained, by using a moving-average approach for durations lasting 1–10 min, for speed (m min−1), acceleration (m s−2), and metabolic power (PMET; W kg−1).

Results
Defenders covered more distance throughout a whole match play, compared to their positional counterparts (Effect size [ES] range = 0.69–1.17). All positions showed a decrease in the second half, compared to the first half, for speed, acceleration, and metabolic power (ES = 0.87, 0.64, and 0.86, respectively). The only positional difference between moving-average durations was at the 8, 9 and 10-min markers for average acceleration, where defenders were greater than attackers (ES range = 0.72 – 0.76).

Conclusions
This study presented a construction of the whole-period outputs as well as peak intensities for women’s collegiate lacrosse competition, that can provide coaches with the knowledge to assist with prescribing appropriate training drills to prepare for game-demands.