Influence of opponent ranking on the physical demands encountered during Ultimate Frisbee match-play.

There is a lack of evidence regarding the match demands encountered in elite Ultimate Frisbee (UF) overall and dependent upon opponent ranking. These data may be useful to elite UF coaches to implement optimal training loads and recovery strategies. Therefore, this study quantified the physical demands of elite UF match-play and analysed differences in demands according to opponent ranking. Twelve UF players from the same national team participated in the study. An observational design was used to compare the physical demands encountered by players between opponents carrying different rankings (1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th) during four official matches in a 5-team competition. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in sprinting and repeated-sprinting activity were evident across UF matches between opponents. In contrast, a higher (moderate-large) quantity and greater intensities of body impacts were observed in UF matches played against higher-ranked (1st) compared to lower-ranked teams (3rd, 4th, and 5th). Additionally, greater (moderate-large) PL and metabolic power were observed in matches played against higher-ranked (1st) compared to lower-ranked teams (3rd and 4th). These findings suggest coaches may need to reduce the training loads in the next days after the matches played against higher-ranked opponents compared to when facing lower-ranked opponents.

Measuring Decrement in Change-of-Direction Speed Across Repeated Sprints in Basketball: Novel vs. Traditional Approaches.

ABSTRACT: Scanlan, AT, Madueno, MC, Guy, JH, Giamarelos, K, Spiteri, T, and Dalbo, VJ. Measuring decrement in change-of-direction speed across repeated sprints in basketball: Novel vs. traditional approaches. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 841-845, 2021-Approaches to quantify decrement in change-of-direction speed during repeated sprints in basketball players have traditionally used total performance time, which is strongly influenced by linear speed. The purpose of this study was to compare performance decrement across change-of-direction sprints using total performance time and a novel approach that better isolates change-of-direction speed, termed change-of-direction deficit (CODD). Semiprofessional basketball players (N = 8; 19.9 ± 1.5 years; 183.0 ± 9.6 cm; 77.7 ± 16.9 kg) completed 12 × 20-m change-of-direction sprints (Agility 5-0-5 trials) with 20-second recoveries between each sprint. Agility 5-0-5 performance time was taken as the duration to cover 5 m immediately before and after (10 m in total) a 180° directional change. Change-of-direction deficit was calculated as the difference between mean 10- and 20-m split time determined during reference 20-m linear sprints in a separate session and Agility 5-0-5 time in each sprint. Performance decrement was calculated for each approach as: ([total time/ideal time] × 100) - 100. Comparisons between approaches were made using a paired-sample t-test, effect size analyses, and magnitude-based inferences. A significantly greater (P < 0.001; effect size = 2.16, very large; almost certainly higher) performance decrement was apparent using CODD (5.99 ± 1.88%) than Agility 5-0-5 performance time (2.84 ± 0.84%). The present findings indicate that change-of-direction speed measured with CODD shows promise in providing different insight and deteriorates more than total performance time during repeated sprints in basketball players. Change-of-direction deficit has potential to better isolate decrements in change-of-direction speed across repeated sprints compared with total performance time.

A systematic review examining the physiological, perceptual, and performance effects of active and passive recovery modes applied between repeated-sprints.

INTRODUCTION: Repeated-sprinting involves performing frequent short sprints (≤10 s) interspersed with brief recovery periods (≤60 s). Studies involving repeated-sprint protocols have typically employed active or passive recovery modes applied between running and cycling sprints. This review synthesized the literature to determine the acute physiological, perceptual, and performance effects of recovery mode applied between repeated-sprints during running and cycling protocols. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE databases. Studies were eligible if they: 1) compared active and passive recovery applied between repeated-sprints; 2) examined sprints lasting ≤10 s, and; 3) included ≤60 s recovery between sprints. Nine studies were included in this review. Five of the included studies examined running and four studies examined cycling. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Passive recovery induced less physiological stress (heart rate, oxygen consumption, and changes in oxyhemoglobin), lower perceptual stress (rating of perceived exertion), and reduced performance decrement (sprint time, speed, and sprint decrement) compared to active recovery in all running studies. Findings were equivocal in cycling. CONCLUSIONS: Application of passive recovery between running repeated-sprints is recommended to reduce performance decrement than passive recovery. Alternatively, active recovery applied between running repeated-sprints provides greater physiological stress than passive recovery and may be a useful training overload strategy to promote physiological adaptation. The mixed findings for physiological and performance measures in cycling studies suggest further research is required to reach definitive conclusions regarding application of recovery modes between cycling repeated-sprints.

Reduced Fatigue in Passive Versus Active Recovery: An Examination of Repeated-Change-of-Direction Sprints in Basketball Players.

PURPOSE: To investigate the physiological and performance effects of active and passive recovery between repeated-change-of-direction sprints. METHODS: Eight semiprofessional basketball players (age: 19.9 [1.5] y; stature: 183.0 [9.6] cm; body mass: 77.7 [16.9] kg; body fat: 11.8% [6.3%]; and peak oxygen consumption: 46.1 [7.6] mL·kg-1·min-1) completed 12 × 20-m repeated-change-of-direction sprints (Agility 5-0-5 tests) interspersed with 20 seconds of active (50% maximal aerobic speed) or passive recovery in a randomized crossover design. Physiological and perceptual measures included heart rate, oxygen consumption, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion. Change-of-direction speed was measured during each sprint using the change-of-direction deficit (CODD), with summed CODD time and CODD decrement calculated as performance measures. RESULTS: Average heart rate (7.3 [6.4] beats·min-1; P = .010; effect size (ES) = 1.09; very likely) and oxygen consumption (4.4 [5.0] mL·kg-1·min-1; P = .12; ES = 0.77; unclear) were moderately greater with active recovery compared with passive recovery across sprints. Summed CODD time (0.87 [1.01] s; P = .07; ES = 0.76, moderate; likely) and CODD decrement (8.1% [3.7%]; P < .01; ES = 1.94, large; almost certainly) were higher with active compared with passive recovery. Trivial-small differences were evident for rating of perceived exertion (P = .516; ES = 0.19; unclear) and posttest blood lactate concentration (P = .29; ES = 0.40; unclear) between recovery modes. CONCLUSIONS: Passive recovery between repeated-change-of-direction sprints may reduce the physiological stress and fatigue encountered compared with active recovery in basketball players.

The sex-specific internal and external demands imposed on players during Ultimate Frisbee game-play.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing popularity of Ultimate Frisbee (UF) across sexes, the game demands imposed on players have been predominately examined in males. This study aimed to compare the internal and external demands of UF game-play in males and females. METHODS: Male (N.=10) and female (N.=10) recreational UF players competed in separate sex-specific, indoor UF games. Internal responses (blood lactate concentration [BLa-], rating of perceived exertion [RPE], and heart rate [HR]) and external responses (direction-specific and total relative PlayerLoad™ [PL], and estimated equivalent distance [EED]) were measured. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVAs with Cohen's effect sizes (d). RESULTS: During male game-play, significantly (P<0.01) higher BLa- (d=1.30, large), HR (d=0.40, small), PL (d=0.80-1.24, moderate-large), and EED (d=0.93, moderate) were apparent during the first half compared to the second half in males. During female game-play, a significantly (P<0.001) larger RPE (d=0.93, moderate) was evident during the second compared to the first half. In addition, females exhibited significantly (P<0.05) lower BLa- (d=1.43, large) in the first half and higher medio-lateral PL (d=1.10, moderate) in the second half compared to males. CONCLUSIONS: While similar global responses were observed between sexes across UF game-play, males experienced greater declines in physiological intensity and multi-directional activity than females. These data indicate overlap in game demands and training recommendations across sexes, with activity maintenance a focus, particularly in males.

Passive Recovery Promotes Superior Performance and Reduced Physiological Stress Across Different Phases of Short-Distance Repeated Sprints.

Scanlan, AT and Madueno, MC. Passive recovery promotes superior performance and reduced physiological stress across different phases of short-distance repeated sprints. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2540-2549, 2016-Limited research has examined the influence of recovery modalities on run-based repeated-sprint (RS) performance with no data available relative to the sprint phase. This study compared run-based RS performance across various sprint phases and underlying physiological responses between active and passive recoveries. Nine students (21.8 ± 3.6 years; 171.3 ± 6.4 cm; 72.8 ± 12.2 kg) completed 2 bouts (active and passive recoveries) of 10 × 20 m sprints interspersed with 30 s recoveries in a randomized crossover fashion. Sprint times and decrements were calculated for each split (0-5, 5-15, 15-20, and 0-20 m) across each sprint. Blood lactate concentration ([BLa]), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at various time-points. Passive recovery promoted improved performance times (p ≤ 0.005) and decrements (p ≤ 0.045) across all splits, and lower post-test [BLa] (p ≤ 0.005), HR (bout 3 onwards) (p ≤ 0.014), and RPE (bout 4 onwards) when compared with active recovery. Performance differences between recoveries were less pronounced across the 0-5 m split. Temporal analyses showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in sprint times and decrements primarily with active recovery. The present data indicate that passive recovery promoted superior performance across run-based RS, with earlier performance deterioration and greater physiological load evident during active recovery. These findings can aid the manipulation of interbout activity across RS drills to promote physiological overload and adaptation during training. Further, coaches may develop tactical strategies to overcome the detrimental effects of active recovery and optimize sprint performance in athletes during game-play.