The running performance profile of elite gaelic football match-play

Malone, S, Solan, B, and Collins, K. Title: The running performance profile of elite Gaelic football match-play. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 30-36, 2017-The current study examined (a) the match running performance of Gaelic football and (b) the decrement in match running performance with respect to position. Global positioning satellite system technologies (4-Hz; VX Sport) were used with 3 elite intercounty teams across 3 full seasons with 250 full game data sets collected. Game movements were classified according to game actions and distance covered across speed zone thresholds (total distance [TD], high-speed running distance [HSRD; > 17 km h-1], sprint distance [SD; > 22 km h-1]; accelerations [n]; peak speed [km h-1]). The influence of running performance in each quarter on the subsequent quarter was analyzed across all positional roles. The mean (6SD) TD and HSRD covered during the game were 8,889 6 1,448 m and 1,596 6 594 m, respectively. Results show a temporal profile for TD with reductions in the second (24.1%), third (25.9%) and fourth (23.8%) quarters, respectively. There was a significant reduction in HSRD in the second (28.8%), third (215.9%), and fourth (219.8%) quarters when compared to the first quarter (p , 0.001). Positional differences were observed for distance-based measures with the middle 3 positions (half-back, midfield, and half-forward) completing the highest running performances. These positions also showed increased decrements in TD and HSRD and SD across quarters. The current data indicate a reduction in exercise intensity over the duration of elite Gaelic football match-play. It is unclear if this reduction is because of fatigue, pacing, contextual factors, or nutritional strategies employed by players.