Quantifying movement demands of AFL football using GPS tracking

Date

2010

Authors

Wisbey, Ben
Montgomery, Paul
Pyne, David
Rattray, Ben

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sports Medicine Australia

Abstract

Global positioning system (GPS) monitoring of movement patterns is widespread in elite football including the Australian Football League (AFL). However documented analysis of this activity is lacking. We quantified the movement patterns of AFL football and differences between nomadic (midfield), forward and defender playing positions, and determined whether the physical demands have increased over a four season period. Selected premiership games were monitored during the 2005 (n=80 game files), 2006 (n=244), 2007 (n=632) and 2008 (n=793) AFL seasons. Players were fitted with a shoulder harness containing a GPS unit. GPS data were downloaded after games and the following measures extracted: total distance (km), time in various speed zones, maximum speed, number of surges, accelerations, longest continuous efforts and a derived exertion index representing playing intensity. In 2008 nomadic players covered per game 3.4% more total distance (km), had 4.8% less playing time (min), a 17% higher exertion index (per min), and 23% more time running >18kmh-1 than forwards and defenders (all p<0.05). Physical demands were substantially higher in the 2008 season compared with 2005: an 8.4% increase in mean speed, a 14% increase in intensity (exertion index) and a 9.0% decrease in playing time (all p<0.05). Nomadic players in AFL work substantially harder than forwards and defenders in covering more ground and at higher running intensities. Increases in the physical demands of AFL football were evident between 2005 and 2008. The increasing speed of the game has implications for game authorities, players and coaching staff.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: acceleration; article; Australia; fitness; football; global positioning system; human; human experiment; motion analysis system; movement (physiology); running; velocity; Athletic Performance; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; Male; Physical Fitness Australian football; Exertion index; Fitness; Global positioning system; Movement patterns

Citation

Source

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

Type

Journal article

Book Title

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Restricted until

2037-12-31