title: Effects of rule changes on physical demands and shot characteristics of elite-standard men's squash and implications for training.
abstract: The physical demands and rally characteristics of elite-standard men's squash have not been well documented since recent rule changes (scoring and tin height). This information is needed to design optimal training drills for physical conditioning provided here based on an analysis of movement and shot information. Matches at the 2010 (n = 14) and 2011 (n = 27) Rowe British Grand Prix were analysed. Rallies were split into four ball-in-play duration categories using the 25th (short), 75th (medium), 95th percentiles (long) and maximum values. Cohen's d and chi-squared tests of independence evaluated effects of rally and rule changes on patterns of play. The proportion of long, middle and short shots was related to the duration of the rally with more shots played in the middle and front of the court in short rallies (phi = 0.12). The frequencies of shots played from different areas of the court have not changed after the adoption of new rules but there is less time available to return shots that reflect the attacking nature of match play for elite-standard men players. Aspiring and current elite-standard players need to condition themselves to improve their ability to cope with these demands using the ghosting patterns presented that mimic demands of modern match play.
authors: a English Institute of Sport, Performance Leads Team , Manchester Institute of Health & Performance , Manchester , UK.
authors: Stafford
authors: S
authors: Murray
authors: b London Sport Institute, School of Science and Technology , Middlesex University , London , UK.
authors: Nic
authors: N
authors: James
authors: c Sport, Media and Marketing , Institute of Technology Carlow , Carlow , Eire.
authors: Mike D
authors: MD
authors: Hughes
authors: d Faculty of Electrical Engineering , University of Ljubljana , Ljubljana , Slovenia.
authors: Janez
authors: J
authors: Perš
authors: d Faculty of Electrical Engineering , University of Ljubljana , Ljubljana , Slovenia.
authors: Rok
authors: R
authors: Mandeljc
authors: e Faculty of Sport , University of Ljubljana , Ljubljana , Slovenia.
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Vučković
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D015865:Racquet Sports / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Game characteristics; shot placement; training protocol