A Comparison of Speed Profiles During Training and Competition in Elite Wheelchair Rugby Players.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the speed profiles of individual training modes in comparison with wheelchair rugby (WCR) competition across player classifications.


METHODS
Speed profiles of 15 international WCR players were determined using a radio-frequency-based indoor tracking system. Mean and peak speed (m/s), work:rest ratios, and the relative time spent in (%) and number of high-speed activities performed were measured across training sessions (n = 464) and international competition (n = 34). Training was classified into 1 of 4 modes: conditioning (n = 71), skill-based (n = 133), game-related (n = 151), and game-simulation drills (n = 109). Game-simulation drills were further categorized by the structured duration, which were 3-min game clock (n = 44), 8-min game clock (n = 39), and 10-min running clock (n = 26). Players were grouped by their International Wheelchair Rugby Federation classification as either low-point (≤1.5; n = 8) or high-point players (≥2.0; n = 7).


RESULTS
Conditioning drills were shown to exceed the demands of competition, irrespective of classification (P ≤ .005; effect size [ES] = 0.6-2.0). Skill-based and game-related drills underrepresented the speed profiles of competition (P ≤ .005; ES = 0.5-1.1). Mean speed and work:rest ratios were significantly lower during 3- and 8-min game-simulation drills in relation to competition (P ≤ .039; ES = 0.5-0.7). However, no significant differences were identified between the 10-min running clock and competition.


CONCLUSIONS
Although game-simulation drills provided the closest representation of competition, the structured duration appeared important since the 10-min running clock increased training specificity. Coaches can therefore modify the desired training response by making subtle changes to the format of game-simulation drills.
James M
JM
Rhodes
Barry S
BS
Mason
Thomas A W
TAW
Paulson
Victoria L
VL
Goosey-Tolfrey
D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
disability sport; exercise prescription; external load; player tracking