Analysis of peak locomotor demands in women’s football–the influence of different epoch lengths
A summary of the article:
The article "Analysis of Peak Locomotor Demands in Women’s Football – The Influence of Different Epoch Lengths" investigates how varying time periods (epochs) affect the measurement of peak locomotor demands in women’s football. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, the study tracked 100 female football players from the Norwegian premier division over two seasons. The research focused on high-speed running, sprinting, and acceleration, analyzing these metrics over different epochs—15, 30, 45, and 60 seconds. The study revealed that the highest intensity of running and sprinting occurs within just the first 15 seconds, with only small gains in performance when extending the epoch length beyond that time. This suggests that shorter epochs capture the most demanding moments of a match, which is critical for tailoring training and recovery programs to better reflect game demands.
The findings emphasize that analyzing shorter time periods (15-30 seconds) is more effective for understanding high-intensity actions, such as sprints, while longer epochs might be better suited for measuring total distance covered. The study concludes that using short epochs can better simulate match conditions, helping coaches design more precise training drills that target peak performance moments in women's football.
Key Takeaways:
Shorter epochs capture peak intensity: Most peak running and sprinting demands occur within 15-second windows, making shorter epochs ideal for assessing high-speed activities.
Limited gains from longer epochs: Extending the epoch length beyond 15 seconds adds only marginal increases in high-speed and sprint distances.
Training implications: Coaches should use shorter epoch lengths in training drills to replicate the intensity of match-play conditions and improve player conditioning.
Authors: Ivan Baptista, Andreas K. Winther, Dag Johansen, Svein Arne Pettersen
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