TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of performance characteristics and internal and external training loads in female collegiate beach volleyball players
AU - Bozzini, Brittany N.
AU - McFadden, Bridget A.
AU - Scruggs, Steven Keith
AU - Arent, Shawn M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 National Strength and Conditioning Association
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Although women’s beach volleyball is the fastest growing collegiate sport, the training demands and performance characteristics have yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate internal and external training loads throughout a competitive season and to quantify the performance characteristics of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s beach volleyball players. Female beach volleyball players (N = 20) were monitored throughout the 6-week competitive season (T1-T6) using integrative global positioning systems (GPS) and heart rate (HR)–monitoring technology, which was individualized based on preseason testing, for the determination of workload metrics. In addition to team data, all variables were analyzed between travel (n = 11, regular match participation) and non-travel (n = 7) squad athletes (p < 0.05). Team performance metrics demonstrated the explosive power emphasis of the sport, with travel squad players exhibiting significantly greater vertical jump and jump velocity abilities than their non-travel counterparts (p < 0.05). Although few time main effects from T1 to T6 were observed for team workload metrics, followups revealed significant time 3 group interactions for training load (TL), exercise energy expenditure (EEE), total distance covered, and minutes spent in HR zones (HRZ1-Z5) over the season (p < 0.05). Finally, although average workloads were greater in practices than in matches, when accounting for pre-match warm-ups, competition load was greater than practice (p < 0.05). National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s beach volleyball is a demanding, explosive power sport characterized by overall large TL and EEE, particularly in-season when athletes compete in 4 matches per weekend. The workloads observed point to the need to assess and manage training loads and fueling requirements to optimize performance and decrease injury risk.
AB - Although women’s beach volleyball is the fastest growing collegiate sport, the training demands and performance characteristics have yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate internal and external training loads throughout a competitive season and to quantify the performance characteristics of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s beach volleyball players. Female beach volleyball players (N = 20) were monitored throughout the 6-week competitive season (T1-T6) using integrative global positioning systems (GPS) and heart rate (HR)–monitoring technology, which was individualized based on preseason testing, for the determination of workload metrics. In addition to team data, all variables were analyzed between travel (n = 11, regular match participation) and non-travel (n = 7) squad athletes (p < 0.05). Team performance metrics demonstrated the explosive power emphasis of the sport, with travel squad players exhibiting significantly greater vertical jump and jump velocity abilities than their non-travel counterparts (p < 0.05). Although few time main effects from T1 to T6 were observed for team workload metrics, followups revealed significant time 3 group interactions for training load (TL), exercise energy expenditure (EEE), total distance covered, and minutes spent in HR zones (HRZ1-Z5) over the season (p < 0.05). Finally, although average workloads were greater in practices than in matches, when accounting for pre-match warm-ups, competition load was greater than practice (p < 0.05). National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s beach volleyball is a demanding, explosive power sport characterized by overall large TL and EEE, particularly in-season when athletes compete in 4 matches per weekend. The workloads observed point to the need to assess and manage training loads and fueling requirements to optimize performance and decrease injury risk.
KW - Athlete monitoring
KW - Exercise energy expenditure
KW - Heart rate
KW - Sand
KW - Vertical jump
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107085250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85107085250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004051
DO - 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004051
M3 - Article
C2 - 33927118
AN - SCOPUS:85107085250
SN - 1064-8011
VL - 35
SP - 1559
EP - 1567
JO - Journal of strength and conditioning research
JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research
IS - 6
ER -