Citation

Malone S, Hughes B, Collins K. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2019; 33(1): 180-187.

Affiliation

1Gaelic Sport Research Centre, Institute of Technology Tallaght Dublin, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000001887

PMID

28277429

Abstract

The current study examined the impact of different exercise to rest ratios on hurling specific small-sided games (SSG). Thirty-four (n = 34) hurling players were monitored during an in-season training period. Heart rate (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) and global positioning system technology (VX Sport, 4-Hz, Lower Hutt, New Zealand) were used to analyse the physical and physiological differences between exercise to rest ratios across bouts of SSG. Total distance (m) high-speed distance (m) (≥17 km·h), very high-speed distance (≥22 km·h) (m), total accelerations (n), acceleration distance (m), peak velocity (km·h) and % maximum heart rate (%HRmax) were measured. Exercise to rest ratios of 2 to 1 (d = 0.65 ± 0.12; moderate) and 1 to 1 (d = 0.43 ± 0.12; small) resulted in significant reductions in high-speed distance, very high-speed distance and acceleration distance. Exercise to rest ratios of 1 to 2 (d = 0.63 ± 0.21; moderate) and 1 to 3 (d = 1.23 ± 0.22; large) resulted in increased high-speed distance, very high-speed distance and acceleration distance but only after the third bout. The first bout of SSG resulted in the lowest %HRmax when compared to all other bouts (d = 0.63 ± 0.22; moderate). A significant bout to bout increase in %HRmax independent of exercise to rest ratio (d = 0.25 ± 0.04; small) was observed. Exercise to rest ratios of 2 to 1 (d = 0.65 ± 0.14; moderate) and 1 to 1 (d = 0.65 ± 0.24; moderate) resulted in significantly higher %HRmax during all SSG bouts however, exercise to rest ratios of 1 to 2 (d = 0.25 ± 0.04; small) and 1 to 3 (d = 0.15 ± 0.04; trivial) resulted in lower %HRmax during SSG. Coaches should be aware that reducing the rest between bouts of SSG (2 to 1 and 1 to 1 exercise to rest ratios) increases the physiological response (%HRmax) with reduced high-speed running performances. Coaches now have data to allow them best prepare for session needs with regard to specific SSG exercise to rest ratios.

Language: en