Abstract

Objective. To compare the kinematic demands on international women field hockey players during official competition matches. Materials and methods. Sixteen women players (age: 24.7 ± 2.8; weight: 57.9 ± 5.9 kg; height: 165.2 ± 4.9 cm) belonging to the Spanish national team were monitored during 5 matches of the European Championship using global positioning systems (GPS). The analyses were carried out according to the players’ positions (defenders, midfielders and forwards), the quarters in the game (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), and the number of minutes played. The data analysed included distances, accelerations and decelerations in different intensity ranges. Results. The defenders showed less high-intensity activity (speeds, accelerations and decelerations) than midfielders and forwards (9.4 ± 2.4%; ES: 0.78 with the midfielders and 33.1 ± 7.2%; ES: 2.1, with the defenders). The analysis by quarters showed that in Q4 activity was the highest for all positions. In terms of the number of minutes played, the cluster analysis grouped the players into 3 groups according to the number of minutes played (<32, 32-45 and >45 minutes). The athletes who played 21 km/h) and high-intensity distance (>15 km/h) per minute of play compared to the group who played >45 minutes. Conclusions. The results of this study show that the physical demands on élite women hockey players depend on their position on the field, and that there is more activity in the last quarter and less relative high-intensity kinematic activity among the players who play more minutes during the match.