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Fields JB, Jagim AR, Kuhlman N, Feit MK, Jones MT. Comparison of Match External Loads across a Men's and Women's Lacrosse Season. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2023; 8:119. [PMID: 37606414 PMCID: PMC10443359 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk8030119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare external workloads between collegiate men's (MLAX) and women's lacrosse (WLAX) matches and examine positional differences across the season. Athletes (MLAX: n = 10; WLAX: n = 13) wore a global positional system device during all matches. External load metrics included in the analysis were total distance (TD), sprint distance (SD), accelerations (>3 m/s2), sprint efforts, player load per minute (PL/min), top speed, and distances spent in various speed zones. WLAX had higher TD (p = 0.001), SD (p < 0.001), distances in SZs 2-5 (p < 0.001), PL (p < 0.001), and sprint efforts (p < 0.001) compared to MLAX. However, MLAX performed more acceleration (p < 0.001) and deceleration (p < 0.001) efforts. WLAX midfielders (M) and defenders (D) reached higher top speeds and performed more accelerations than attackers (p < 0.001). Midfielders covered the greatest distance at high speeds (p = 0.011) and the smallest distance at low speeds (<0.001) for WLAX. For MLAX, midfielders performed the highest SDs, top speeds, accelerations, decelerations, and distances in higher speed zones (p < 0.001) compared to attackers and defenders. Results indicate that there are significant gender and positional differences in external workload demands during match play, specifically for volume- and intensity-derived workload parameters, between men's and women's lacrosse. Therefore, sports performance coaches should create gender- and position-specific conditioning programs to prepare athletes for match demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B. Fields
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA;
- Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Springfield College, Springfield, MA 01109, USA;
- Patriot Performance Laboratory, Frank Pettrone Center for Sports Performance, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
| | - Andrew R. Jagim
- Patriot Performance Laboratory, Frank Pettrone Center for Sports Performance, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
- Sports Medicine Department, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA
| | - Nicholas Kuhlman
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA;
- Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Springfield College, Springfield, MA 01109, USA;
| | - Mary Kate Feit
- Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Springfield College, Springfield, MA 01109, USA;
| | - Margaret T. Jones
- Patriot Performance Laboratory, Frank Pettrone Center for Sports Performance, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
- Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
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