Ice training workload relation to the game workload in ice hockey
Kåla, Patrick (2024)
2024
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024051010558
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024051010558
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study is to provide insights into the amount of load and intensity of forwards and defensemen in the ice practices in relation to game amount of load and intensity. The data for the study was collected from a professional team playing in the Finnish main league, Liiga, during the 2022-2023 regular season.
The data collection utilized Firstbeat Sport Sensors (Firstbeat Technologies) to gather information on the amount and intensity of load in the ice practices and games. Data was collected from ice practices (GD-2, GD-1, GD-0) and games (GD). The key variables in this study are the internal load variable TRIMP, the external load variable movement load, and the intensity of the internal load variable TRIMP/min and intensity of the external load variable movement intensity. Differences in the variables were compared using paired samples t-tests. The data collection for this study was conducted as part of Marko Haverinen's dissertation research.
Both forwards and defensemen, on average, experienced higher internal load (TRIMP) and external load (movement load) in the games compared to ice practices. When examining the intensity of the load, forwards had a higher average TRIMP/min only in the ice practice conducted two days before the game (1.09 ± 0.49 vs. 1.07 ± 0.29). On the other hand, forwards had a higher average movement intensity in all ice practice sessions compared to games. Similarly, defensemen had a higher average TRIMP/min only in the ice practice conducted two days before the game (1.22 ± 0.42 vs. 0.96 ± 0.26). The other intensity variable, movement intensity, had a higher average in all ice practice sessions compared to games for defensemen.
The study demonstrated that the load and intensity in the ice practices decreases as the game approaches, regardless of player position. When examining both internal and external load, games were significantly more demanding than ice practices for both forwards and defensemen. Regarding the intensity of the load variable, movement intensity was higher during ice practices than games for both player positions. This could be due to the fact that during games, data is collected for the entire duration of the match, including time spent on the player bench and during intermissions. The results aid coaches in considering the planning of ice training to achieve game-like loads for both player positions throughout the team's training week.
The data collection utilized Firstbeat Sport Sensors (Firstbeat Technologies) to gather information on the amount and intensity of load in the ice practices and games. Data was collected from ice practices (GD-2, GD-1, GD-0) and games (GD). The key variables in this study are the internal load variable TRIMP, the external load variable movement load, and the intensity of the internal load variable TRIMP/min and intensity of the external load variable movement intensity. Differences in the variables were compared using paired samples t-tests. The data collection for this study was conducted as part of Marko Haverinen's dissertation research.
Both forwards and defensemen, on average, experienced higher internal load (TRIMP) and external load (movement load) in the games compared to ice practices. When examining the intensity of the load, forwards had a higher average TRIMP/min only in the ice practice conducted two days before the game (1.09 ± 0.49 vs. 1.07 ± 0.29). On the other hand, forwards had a higher average movement intensity in all ice practice sessions compared to games. Similarly, defensemen had a higher average TRIMP/min only in the ice practice conducted two days before the game (1.22 ± 0.42 vs. 0.96 ± 0.26). The other intensity variable, movement intensity, had a higher average in all ice practice sessions compared to games for defensemen.
The study demonstrated that the load and intensity in the ice practices decreases as the game approaches, regardless of player position. When examining both internal and external load, games were significantly more demanding than ice practices for both forwards and defensemen. Regarding the intensity of the load variable, movement intensity was higher during ice practices than games for both player positions. This could be due to the fact that during games, data is collected for the entire duration of the match, including time spent on the player bench and during intermissions. The results aid coaches in considering the planning of ice training to achieve game-like loads for both player positions throughout the team's training week.