title: Position statement--altitude training for improving team-sport players' performance: current knowledge and unresolved issues.
abstract: Despite the limited research on the effects of altitude (or hypoxic) training interventions on team-sport performance, players from all around the world engaged in these sports are now using altitude training more than ever before. In March 2013, an Altitude Training and Team Sports conference was held in Doha, Qatar, to establish a forum of research and practical insights into this rapidly growing field. A round-table meeting in which the panellists engaged in focused discussions concluded this conference. This has resulted in the present position statement, designed to highlight some key issues raised during the debates and to integrate the ideas into a shared conceptual framework. The present signposting document has been developed for use by support teams (coaches, performance scientists, physicians, strength and conditioning staff) and other professionals who have an interest in the practical application of altitude training for team sports. After more than four decades of research, there is still no consensus on the optimal strategies to elicit the best results from altitude training in a team-sport population. However, there are some recommended strategies discussed in this position statement to adopt for improving the acclimatisation process when training/competing at altitude and for potentially enhancing sea-level performance. It is our hope that this information will be intriguing, balanced and, more importantly, stimulating to the point that it promotes constructive discussion and serves as a guide for future research aimed at advancing the bourgeoning body of knowledge in the area of altitude training for team sports.
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Centre, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, , Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aughey
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Billaut
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Pitre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourdon
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchheit
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Garvican-Lewis
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: Grégoire P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: Charli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: Philo U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Yorck O
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Schumacher
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000531:Altitude; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000639:trends; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends
keywords: Altitude; Assessing physical training modalities in enhancing sports performance; Elite performance; Soccer; Training