Abstract
This study assessed accelerometry-derived relative exercise intensity during elite
women’s basketball match play. The influence of player position/role and match period
on relative exercise intensities was evaluated. Ten basketballers wore accelerometers
during a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo-IR1) and 18 competitive matches.
Relative exercise intensity was quantified using predicted oxygen consumption reserve
determined using correlations from Yo-Yo-IR1. Total time, bout frequency and bout
duration were calculated in seven intensity zones and compared between quarters, positions
(back-court vs. front-court) and roles (starters vs. bench). Back-court players spent 6.0±1.9% more match time performing supramaximal
activity when compared to front-court players (p<0.045). Back-court players experienced
more supramaximal bouts (125±37 vs. 52±36; p=0.031) of greater average duration (2.1±0.4 vs. 1.4±0.2 s; p=0.021) and maximum duration (7±2 vs. 3±1 s; p=0.020). More sedentary to very light activity was observed in the 2nd and 4th quarters compared to the 1st and 3rd quarters (p<0.05). Despite reduced playing time, bench players performed similar
amounts of maximal and supramaximal exercise when compared to starters (p≥0.279).
Player position, role and match periods influence the demands of women’s basketball;
these factors should be considered when designing match-specific conditioning programs.
Key words
female - training load - monitoring - accelerometer - workloads
