Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a test battery suitable for the assessment of physiological factors of importance to field hockey and to monitor the physiological adaptation of Olympic team members during the year prior to the Los Angeles Games. Eighteen members (x age = 23.4 years) of the Canadian Womens Field Hockey Team were evaluated on three occasions. The test battery included several anthropometric and flexibility measurements, a modified Margaria-Kalamen stair run, the Anaerobic Speed Test (AST), lower body strength as evaluated by the Cybex, and a progressive treadmill run to exhaustion. The results of each athlete on each variable were recorded and the mean was calculated for the team, and by position, at each test session. Height, weight, body fat and V02max averaged 161.7 cm, 58.0 kg, 18.9 and 52.7 ml/kg/min respectively, at the time of the first test. At Test 3, average body fat and V02max were 15.7 and 59.3 ml/kg/min, respectively. There were no significant changes in the anaerobic measurements between Tests 1 and 3. Maximal oxygen uptake (ml/kg/min), which did not differ significantly between positions, averaged 46.8, 50.8, 54.1 and 57.0 for the goalkeepers, defence, midfield, and strikers, respectively, at Test 1. Lower body strength was the only variable that differed significantly by position. The greatest lower body strength and anaerobic power, and lowest anaerobic capacity as measured by the AST, was demonstrated by the goalkeepers. Vertical velocity during the stair run was lowest for the goalkeepers and defence players, and greatest for the strikers. Midfield players possessed the highest anaerobic capacity. In conclusion, physiological profiles were developed for each athlete, an each position, and a test battery has been developed for use at the High Performance Sport Centres. Verf.-Referat