High-Intensity Accelerations and Decelerations During Intercounty Camogie Match Play

Background: This study aimed to compare acceleration and deceleration demands of intercounty Camogie players, and differences across playing positions and halves of play.

Hypothesis: The middle 3 positions will have greatest accelerations and decelerations variables across match play and halves of play.

Study design: Nonrandomized, repeated measures design.

Level of evidence: Level 4.

Methods: Global positioning systems (GPS) (10 Hz) collected data from 28 participants during 18 competitive matches across 2 seasons; 206 individual player datasets were analyzed.

Results: Half-backs (P < 0.05; effect size [ES], -1.75) and midfielders (P < 0.05; ES, -1.68) covered significantly greater total number of accelerations than full-forwards. In acceleration zone 4, midfielders (P < 0.05; ES, = -1.67) and half forwards covered a significantly greater number than full-forwards (P < 0.01; ES, = -1.41). Midfielders accumulated a significantly greater distance in acceleration zone 4 than full-backs (P < 0.05; ES, = -0.57). Significant decrements were observed between halves in total number of accelerations (P < 0.01; ES, = 0.49), accelerations in zones 1 to 4 (P < 0.01; ES, 0.16-0.43), total distance of accelerations, and acceleration distance in zones 2 to 4 (P < 0.05; ES, 0.25; P < 0.01; ES, 0.45; P < 0.01; ES, 0.38). There were significant decrements in the total number of decelerations (P < 0.01; ES, 0.43), number of decelerations in zones 2 (P < 0.05; ES, 0.25), 3 (P < 0.01; ES, 0.45), and 4 (P < 0.01; ES, 0.38), and total deceleration distance (P < 0.01; ES, 0.16).

Conclusion: Half-backs and midfielders covered significantly greater total number of accelerations than full-forwards. Significant decrements in several acceleration and deceleration variables were observed between halves.

Clinical relevance: Players competing in intercounty Camogie should receive progressive exposure to acceleration and deceleration-based movement demands to prepare players for intercounty Camogie match play.