MODELLING TRACK CYCLING STANDING START PERFORMANCE: COMBINING ENERGY SUPPLY AND ENERGY DEMAND

To date there has been limited practical application of energy supply models to sprint cycling performance due to difficulties in determining complex physiological parameters or oversimplifications limiting relevance to steady state performance. Here an energy supply and demand model is presented for track cycling drawing on research incorporating forward integration energy demand modelling, the Power-Cadence relationship in maximal sprint cycling, rate of fatigue per revolution relative to maximum power and the critical power model. All input parameters can be determined from simple field or laboratory testing and even training data. The model successfully predicted an elite cyclist’s timed 250-m performance from stationary start to within 0.31%

Challenges and considerations in determining the quality of electronic performance & tracking systems for team sports

Electronic performance & tracking systems (EPTS) are commonly used to track the location and velocity of athletes in many team sports. A range of associated applications using the derived data exist, such as assessment of athlete characteristics, informing training design, assisting match adjudication and providing fan insights for broadcast. Consequently the quality of such systems is of importance to a range of stakeholders. The influence of both systematic and methodological factors such as hardware, software settings, sample rate and filtering on this resulting quality is non-trivial. Highlighting these allows for the user to understand their strengths and limitations in various decision-making processes, as well as identify areas for research and development. In this paper, a number of challenges and considerations relating to the determination of EPTS validity for team sport are outlined and discussed. The aim of this paper is to draw attention of these factors to both researchers and practitioners looking to inform their decision-making in the EPTS area. Addressing some of the posited considerations in future work may represent best practice; others may require further investigation, have multiple potential solutions or currently be intractable

High-Intensity Warm-Ups: Effects During Subsequent Intermittent Exercise

High-intensity, short-duration warm-up techniques improve acute physical performance, but sparse research has examined their consequence when followed by intermittent activity, which is pertinent to team sports. The authors compared a 5-repetition-maximum (5RM) leg-press, a small-sided game (SSG), and a current team-sport warm-up in 10 semiprofessional soccer players after 2 intermittent-activity protocols consisting of 15 repetitions of a 60-s circuit that included sprinting, slalom, walking, jogging, decelerations, changes of direction, backward running, and striding activities. There was a large improvement in countermovement-jump height in the 5RM after the 1st intermittent-activity protocol (mean, ±90% CL 6.0, ±4.0%, P = .03) and a small improvement after the 2nd (4.6, ±4.0%, P = .04) compared with team sport. Reactive agility was moderately faster via 5RM after the 1st intermittent-activity protocol (3.1, ±2.6%: P = .04) and the 2nd (5.7, ±2.7%, P = .001) than via SSG. There was a small improvement in reactive agility after the 1st intermittent-activity protocol in the 5RM, compared with team sport (3.3, ±2.9%, P = .04). There was a small improvement in mean 20-m-sprint times after both intermittent-activity protocols in the 5RM, compared with SSG (4.2, ±2.0%, P = .01, and 4.3, ±2.0%, P = .01) and, after the 1st intermittent-activity protocol only, compared with team sport (4.2, ±2.1%, P = 0.02). Small increases in blood lactate concentration were observed (46.7, ±18.6%, P = .01) in the 5RM compared with the SSG after the 2nd intermittent-activity protocol. Improved performances after the 5RM warm-up should encourage practitioners to reduce activity time and include high-intensity tasks in team-sport warmups aimed at inducing a potentiating effect.</jats:p

The peak player load™ of state-level netball matches

Objectives To investigate the peak accelerometer-derived intensity of state-level netball matches and compare differences between positional groupings. Findings will provide guidance for sport science professionals on how to best replicate the most intense passages of play in training settings. Design Longitudinal (one season). Method Twenty-eight netball athletes across three teams from the same club wore an accelerometer (S5 Optimeye, Catapult sports) for all matches, in one season. Raw acceleration data were downloaded and converted into a vector magnitude (Player Load™) we then quantified the peak intensity over 30-s and one to ten-minute time periods. Positional groupings were created based on the number of thirds on a netball court that a particular position can enter, as this was deemed more appropriate for the current study than the traditional combinations based on tactical requirements. A linear mixed-model with fixed and random effects was utilised along with magnitude-based inferences to determine meaningful differences with 90 % confidence limits (CL). Results Across all time periods post 30-s, only one comparison was not meaningfully different i.e. three-thirds v two-thirds at the one-minute timepoint (effect size: 0.27, CL −0.05 to 0.60). Conclusions Findings justify that netball athletes, depending on positional group defined by this study, should train at different intensities dependent on a specified duration. Conditioning professionals and coaches should design training drills that best replicate the peak intensity of match play. This may improve an athlete’s physical performance capacity during highly exertive periods of competition, which regularly occur at critical moments in play

High-Intensity Re-Warm-Ups Enhance Soccer Performance

The effects of high-intensity, short-duration, re-warm-ups on team-sport-related performance were investigated. In a randomised, cross-over study, participants performed 2×26-min periods of an intermittent activity protocol (IAP) on a non-motorized treadmill, interspersed by 15-min of passive recovery (CON); 3-min small-sided game (SSG); or a 5RM leg-press. Measures included counter-movement jump, repeated-sprint, the Loughborough soccer passing test (LSPT), blood lactate concentration, heart-rate, and perceptual measures. Data were analyzed using effect size (90% confidence intervals), and percentage change; determining magnitudes of effects. A 5RM re-warm-up improved flight-time to contraction-time ratio when compared to SSG (9.8%, ES; 0.5±0.3) and CON (ES: 9.4%, 0.7±0.5) re-warm-ups, remaining higher following the second IAP (8.8%, ES; 0.5±0.3 and 10.2%, ES; 0.6±0.6, respectively). Relative-maximum rate-of-force development was greater in the 5RM condition following the second IAP compared to SSG (29.3%, ES; 0.7±0.5) and CON (16.2%, ES; 0.6±0.6). Repeated-sprint ability during the second IAP improved in the 5RM re-warm-up; peak velocity, mean velocity, and acceleration were 4, 3, and 18% greater, respectively. Within groups, the SSG re-warm-up improved LSPT performance post-intervention; 6.4% (ES: 0.6±0.8) and following the second IAP 6.2% (ES: 0.6±0.6), compared to pre-intervention. A 5RM leg-press re-warm-up improved physical performance, while a SSG re-warm-up enhanced skill execution following standardized intermittent exercise

Heavy Resistance Training in Hypoxia enhances 1RM Squat Performance

Purpose:To determine if heavy resistance training in hypoxia (IHRT) is more effective at improving strength, power and increasing lean mass than the same training in normoxia.Methods:A pair-matched, placebo-controlled study design included 20 resistance-trained participants assigned to IHRT (FIO2 0.143) or placebo (FIO2 0.20), (n=10 per group). Participants were matched for strength and training. Both groups performed 20 sessions over 7 weeks either with IHRT or placebo. All participants were tested for 1RM, 20-m sprint, body composition and countermovement jump pre-, mid- and post-training and compared via magnitude-based inferences.Presentation of Results:Groups were not clearly different for any test at baseline. Training improved both absolute (IHRT: 13.1 ± 3.9%, effect size (ES) 0.60, placebo 9.8 ± 4.7%, ES 0.31) and relative 1RM (IHRT: 13.4 ± 5.1%, ES 0.76, placebo 9.7 ± 5.3%, ES 0.48) at mid. Similarly, at post both groups increased absolute (IHRT: 20.7 ± 7.6%, ES 0.74, placebo 14.1 ± 6.0%, ES 0.58) and relative 1RM (IHRT: 21.6 ± 8.5%, ES 1.08, placebo 13.2 ± 6.4%, ES 0.78). Importantly, the change in IHRT was greater than placebo at mid for both absolute (4.4% greater change, 90% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.0:8.0%, ES 0.21, and relative strength (5.6% greater change, 90% CI 1.0:9.4%, ES 0.31 (relative)). There was also a greater change for IHRT at post for both absolute (7.0% greater change, 90% CI 1.3:13%, ES 0.33), and relative 1RM (9.2% greater change, 90% CI 1.6:14.9%, ES 0.49). Only IHRT increased countermovement jump peak power at Post (4.9%, ES 0.35), however the difference between IHRT and placebo was unclear (2.7%, 90% CI -2.0:7.6%, ES 0.20) with no clear differences in speed or body composition throughout.Conclusion:Heavy resistance training in hypoxia is more effective than placebo for improving absolute and relative strength

High-intensity warm-ups elicit superior performance to a current soccer warm-up routine

Objectives: This study investigated the acute effects of a currently implemented team-sport warm-up and two alternative, high-intensity, short-duration protocols – 5 repetition maximum leg press and small-sided games. Design: Ten male soccer players participated in a randomised, cross-over study. Methods: Participants performed a team-sport, a leg-press, or a small-sided game warm-up. Subsequent performance tests included counter-movement jump, reactive agility, and 15 × 20 m sprints embedded in an intermittent exercise task. Physiological measures included core temperature, blood lactate concentration, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion. Data were analysed using the effect size statistic with 90% confidence intervals, and percentage change, to determine magnitude of effects. Results: Counter-movement jump height improved following the small-sided game (6%, ES: 0.8 ± 0.8) and leg-press warm-up (2%, ES: 0.3 ± 0.5), but not after the team-sport warm-up (‘unclear’ effect). Reactive agility improved after the small-sided game (4%, ES: 0.8 ± 0.7) and leg-press warm-ups only (5%, ES: 1.1 ± 0.7), when compared to baseline. Mean 20-m sprint times during the intermittent exercise task improved following the leg-press warm-up, when compared with the small-sided game (9%, ES: 0.9 ± 0.3) and team-sport warm-ups (7%, ES: 0.6 ± 0.6). Core temperature was lower following the leg-press warm-up compared to small-sided game (1%, ES: 0.9 ± 0.7) and the team-sport WUs (2%, ES: 2.4 ± 0.8). Blood lactate was highest following the small-sided game (67%, ES: 2.7 ± 0.8) and team-sport warm-ups (66%, ES: 2.9 ± 0.9). Conclusions: A leg-press and small-sided game warm-up may improve acute team-sport performance tests when compared to a traditional warm-up protocol

New Order: Political Change and the Protestant Orange Tradition in Northern Ireland

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) led to a major realignment in unionist politics in Northern Ireland. The Ulster Unionist party (UUP), hitherto the dominant force within the Protestant British tradition, was usurped in electoral popularity by the Democratic Unionist party (DUP). In its post-GFA rise, the DUP garnered majority support from members of the Orange Order, the largest organisation in Protestant civil society. Drawing upon a recent membership survey of the Orange Order conducted by the authors, this article examines the demographic and attitudinal bases of support for unionist political parties among its members, and tests whether the locus of support for the DUP is evenly distributed, or instead biased towards particular age groups, social classes or Protestant denominations within the Order, as well as assessing whether attitudinal variations may be influential in determining party loyalties