American Journal of Sports Science

| Peer-Reviewed |

Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition

Received: 02 June 2020    Accepted: 18 June 2020    Published: 13 July 2020
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

Differences in performance between winning and losing were examined in 1 elite Gaelic football team in 20 games across 2 complete competitive seasons. Possession was codified using Dartfish TeamPro software and distance covered; walking, jogging, running, and running at high and maximum speeds, was evaluated using Catapult OptimEye S5 player tracking devices. Distance covered in low intensity activity (LIA, ˂4.0 m.s-1), high intensity running (HIR, ≥4.0 m•s-1) and very high intensity running (VHIR, ≥5.5 m•s-1) was also examined along with PlayerLoad™, which represented a composite of all accelerations. Data from 53 players (n=405 files) was collated into specific match periods to facilitate a temporal analysis between the first and second halves and from quarter 1 (Q1) to quarter 4 (Q4), with significance accepted at p ≤ 0.05. Total distance and running was higher in games lost, whereas total distance, walking and LIA was higher in halves lost. Only walking was higher in quarters lost. The percentage of possession declined in halves and quarters lost. In games lost, high speed running declined in the second half. From Q1 to Q4; PlayerLoad™, total distance, jogging, high speed running, HIR and VHIR, decreased in all games combined and in games lost. Possession frequency declined in Q4 in all games and in games won. Overall, total distance was higher in games lost and physical performance declines were more pronounced when examined by match quarter compared to half and were only apparent in games lost. Similarly, reductions in possession frequency and percentage were more evident when examined by quarter or period lost, respectively. These findings can inform the prescription of conditioning and field-training strategies to mitigate the reductions in performance observed in losing and towards the end of games.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13
Published in American Journal of Sports Science (Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2020)
Page(s) 39-48
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Performance Analysis, Technical, Tactical, GPS, Temporal

References
[1] Beasley, K. J., 2015. Nutrition and Gaelic football: Review, recommendations, and future considerations. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 25 (1): 1–13.
[2] Gamble, D., J. Bradley, A. McCarren and N. M. Moyna, 2019. Team performance indicators which differentiate between winning and losing in elite Gaelic football. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19 (4): 478–490.
[3] Reilly, T. and D. Doran, 2001. Science and Gaelic football: A review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 19 (3): 181–193.
[4] Gamble, D., M. Spencer, A. McCarren and N. Moyna, 2019. Activity profile, PlayerLoad™ and heart rate response of Gaelic football players: A pilot study. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 14 (4): 1–15.
[5] Mooney, M., S. Cormack, B. O’Brien and A. J. Coutts, 2013. Do physical capacity and interchange rest periods influence match exercise-intensity profile in Australian football? International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 8 (2): 165–172.
[6] Hughes, M. D. and R. M. Bartlett, 2002. The use of performance indicators in performance analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 20: 739–754.
[7] Cummins, C., R. Orr, H. O’Connor and C. West, 2013. Global positioning systems (GPS) and microtechnology sensors in team sports: A systematic review. Sports Medicine, 43 (10): 1025–1042.
[8] Malone, S., B. Solan, K. D. Collins and D. A. Doran, 2016. Positional Match Running Performance in Elite Gaelic Football. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30 (8): 2292–2298.
[9] Malone, S., B. Solan and K. Collins, 2017. The running performance profile of elite Gaelic football match-play. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31 (1): 30–36.
[10] Mangan, S., S. Malone, M. Ryan, J. McGahan, J. Warne, D. Martin, C. O’Neill, C. Burns and K. Collins, 2017. Influence of team rating on running performance in elite Gaelic football. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (9): 2584–2591.
[11] Mangan, S., M. Ryan, S. Devenney, A. Shovlin, J. McGahan, S. Malone, C. O’Neill, C. Burns and K. Collins, 2017. The relationship between technical performance indicators and running performance in elite Gaelic football. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 17 (5): 706–720.
[12] Mangan, S., S. Malone, M. Ryan, J. McGahan, C. O’Neill, C. Burns, J. Warne, D. Martin and K. Collins, 2017. The influence of match outcome on running performance in elite Gaelic football. Science and Medicine in Football, 1 (3): 272–279.
[13] Bradley, P. S. and T. D. Noakes, 2013. Match running performance fluctuations in elite soccer: Indicative of fatigue, pacing or situational influences? Journal of Sports Sciences, 31 (15): 1627–1638.
[14] Redwood-Brown, A. J., P. G. O’Donoghue, A. M. Nevill, C. Saward and C. Sunderland, 2019. Effects of playing position, pitch location, opposition ability and team ability on the technical performance of elite soccer players in different score line states. PLoS ONE, 14 (2): 1–21.
[15] Mangan, S., M. Ryan, A. Shovlin, J. McGahan, S. Malone, C. O’Neill, C. Burns and K. Collins, 2019. Seasonal changes in Gaelic football match-play running performance. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33 (6): 1685–1691.
[16] Allister, A., P. J. Byrne, C. D. Nulty and S. Jordan, 2018. Game-related statistics which discriminate elite senior Gaelic football teams according to game outcome and final score difference. International Journal of Performance Analysis, 18 (4): 622–632.
[17] Gamble, D., A. McCarren, J. Bradley and N. Moyna, 2019. Temporal changes in team performance indicators which differentiate between winning and losing in elite Gaelic football. American Journal of Sports Science, 7 (4): 199–207.
[18] Gamble, D., A. McCarren, J. Bradley and N. Moyna, 2020. Novel component variables can be used to distinguish between winning and losing across match periods in elite Gaelic football. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, ePub.
[19] Coutts, A. J., J. Quinn, J. Hocking, C. Castagna and E. Rampinini, 2010. Match running performance in elite Australian Rules Football. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13 (5): 543–548.
[20] Edwards, A. M. and T. D. Noakes, 2009. Dehydration: Cause of fatigue or sign of pacing in elite soccer? Sports Medicine, 39 (1): 1–13.
[21] Duffield, R., A. J. Coutts and J. Quinn, 2009. Core temperature responses and match running performance during intermittent sprint exercise competition in warm conditions. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23 (4): 1238–1244.
[22] Johnston, R. D., T. J. Gabbett, A. J. Seibold and D. G. Jenkins, 2014. Influence of physical contact on pacing strategies during game-based activities. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9 (5): 811–816.
[23] Young, D., L. Mourot and G. Coratella, 2018. Match-play performance comparisons between elite and sub-elite hurling players. Sport Sciences for Health, 14 (1): 201–208.
[24] Bradley, P. S., W. Sheldon, B. Wooster, P. Olsen, P. Boanas and P. Krustrup, 2009. High-intensity running in English FA Premier League soccer matches. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27 (2): 159–168.
[25] Wehbe, G., T. Hartwig and C. Duncan, 2014. Movement analysis of Australian national league soccer players using global positioning system technology. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28: 834–42.
[26] Boyd, Luke, J., K. Ball and R. J. Aughey, 2011. The reliability of MinimaxX accelerometers for measuring physical activity in Australian football. International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance, 6: 311–321.
[27] Jennings, D., Cormack, S., Coutts, A. J., Boyd, L., & Aughey, R. J., 2010. The validity and reliability of GPS units in team sport specific running patterns. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 5 (3): 328–341.
[28] Thornton, H. R., A. R. Nelson, J. A. Delaney, F. R. Serpiello and G. M. Duthie, 2019. Interunit reliability and effect of data-processing methods of global positioning systems. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 14 (4): 432–438.
[29] Luteberget, L. S., B. R. Holme and M. Spencer, 2018. Reliability of wearable inertial measurement units to measure physical activity in team handball. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13 (4): 467–473.
[30] Beato, M., G. Coratella, A. Stiff and A. Dello Iacono, 2018. The validity and between-unit variability of GNSS units (STATSports apex 10 and 18 Hz) for measuring distance and peak speed in team sports. Frontiers in Physiology, 9 (SEP):
[31] McGraw, K. O. and S. P. Wong, 1996. Forming inferences about some intraclass correlation coefficients. Psychological Methods, 1 (1): 30–46.
[32] Koo, T. K. and M. Y. Li, 2016. A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 15 (2): 155–163.
[33] McGahan, J., S. Mangan, K. Collins, C. Burns, T. Gabbett and C. O’Neill, 2018. Match-play running demands and technical performance among elite Gaelic footballers: Does divisional status count? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Epub: doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002450.
[34] McGahan, J., C. Burns, S. Lacey, T. Gabbett and C. O. Neill, 2018. An investigation in to the positional running demands of elite Gaelic football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Epub: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002492.
[35] Rampinini, E., F. M. Impellizzeri, C. Castagna, A. J. Coutts and U. Wisløff, 2009. Technical performance during soccer matches of the Italian Serie A league: Effect of fatigue and competitive level. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12 (1): 227–233.
[36] Castellano, J., A. Blanco-Villaseñor and D. Álvarez, 2011. Contextual variables and time-motion analysis in soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 32 (6): 415–421.
[37] Lago-Peñas, C., J. Lago-Ballesteros and E. Rey, 2011. Differences in performance indicators between winning and losing teams in the UEFA Champions League. Journal of Human Kinetics, 27 (1): 135–146.
[38] Gronow, D., B. Dawson, J. Heasman, B. Rogalski and P. Peeling, 2014. Team movement patterns with and without ball possession in Australian Football League players. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 14 (3): 635–651.
[39] Bradley, P. S., C. Lago-Peñas, E. Rey and A. Gomez Diaz, 2013. The effect of high and low percentage ball possession on physical and technical profiles in English FA Premier League soccer matches. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31 (12): 1261–1270.
[40] Waldron, M. and J. Highton, 2014. Fatigue and pacing in high-intensity intermittent team sport: An update. Sports Medicine, 44 (12): 1645–1658.
[41] Mohr, M., P. Krustrup and J. Bangsbo, 2003. Match performance of high-standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21 (7): 519–528.
[42] Wallace, J. L. and K. I. Norton, 2014. Evolution of World Cup soccer final games 1966-2010: Game structure, speed and play patterns. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17 (2): 223–228.
[43] Bradley, P. S., M. Di Mascio, D. Peart, P. Olsen and B. Sheldon, 2010. High-Intensity Activity Profiles of Elite Soccer Players at Different Performance Levels. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24 (9): 2343–2351.
[44] Carling, C. and G. Dupont, 2011. Are declines in physical performance associated with a reduction in skill-related performance during professional soccer match-play? Journal of Sports Sciences, 29 (1): 63–71.
[45] Di Salvo, V., W. Gregson, G. Atkinson, P. Tordoff and B. Drust, 2009. Analysis of high intensity activity in premier league soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 30 (3): 205–212.
Author Information
  • Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Ireland; School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

  • School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

  • Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Ireland

  • Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Ireland

  • School of Sport, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Ireland

  • School of Sport, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, Ireland

  • Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

  • Centre of Performance Analysis, Institute of Technology Carlow, Carlow, Ireland

  • Insight Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Declan Gamble, Niall Moyna, Richard McCann, Damian Martin, Gerard McMahon, et al. (2020). Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition. American Journal of Sports Science, 8(2), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Declan Gamble; Niall Moyna; Richard McCann; Damian Martin; Gerard McMahon, et al. Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition. Am. J. Sports Sci. 2020, 8(2), 39-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Declan Gamble, Niall Moyna, Richard McCann, Damian Martin, Gerard McMahon, et al. Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition. Am J Sports Sci. 2020;8(2):39-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13,
      author = {Declan Gamble and Niall Moyna and Richard McCann and Damian Martin and Gerard McMahon and Lee Rooney and Matt Spencer and Johnny Bradley and Andrew McCarren},
      title = {Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition},
      journal = {American Journal of Sports Science},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {39-48},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajss.20200802.13},
      abstract = {Differences in performance between winning and losing were examined in 1 elite Gaelic football team in 20 games across 2 complete competitive seasons. Possession was codified using Dartfish TeamPro software and distance covered; walking, jogging, running, and running at high and maximum speeds, was evaluated using Catapult OptimEye S5 player tracking devices. Distance covered in low intensity activity (LIA, ˂4.0 m.s-1), high intensity running (HIR, ≥4.0 m•s-1) and very high intensity running (VHIR, ≥5.5 m•s-1) was also examined along with PlayerLoad™, which represented a composite of all accelerations. Data from 53 players (n=405 files) was collated into specific match periods to facilitate a temporal analysis between the first and second halves and from quarter 1 (Q1) to quarter 4 (Q4), with significance accepted at p ≤ 0.05. Total distance and running was higher in games lost, whereas total distance, walking and LIA was higher in halves lost. Only walking was higher in quarters lost. The percentage of possession declined in halves and quarters lost. In games lost, high speed running declined in the second half. From Q1 to Q4; PlayerLoad™, total distance, jogging, high speed running, HIR and VHIR, decreased in all games combined and in games lost. Possession frequency declined in Q4 in all games and in games won. Overall, total distance was higher in games lost and physical performance declines were more pronounced when examined by match quarter compared to half and were only apparent in games lost. Similarly, reductions in possession frequency and percentage were more evident when examined by quarter or period lost, respectively. These findings can inform the prescription of conditioning and field-training strategies to mitigate the reductions in performance observed in losing and towards the end of games.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition
    AU  - Declan Gamble
    AU  - Niall Moyna
    AU  - Richard McCann
    AU  - Damian Martin
    AU  - Gerard McMahon
    AU  - Lee Rooney
    AU  - Matt Spencer
    AU  - Johnny Bradley
    AU  - Andrew McCarren
    Y1  - 2020/07/13
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13
    T2  - American Journal of Sports Science
    JF  - American Journal of Sports Science
    JO  - American Journal of Sports Science
    SP  - 39
    EP  - 48
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8540
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20200802.13
    AB  - Differences in performance between winning and losing were examined in 1 elite Gaelic football team in 20 games across 2 complete competitive seasons. Possession was codified using Dartfish TeamPro software and distance covered; walking, jogging, running, and running at high and maximum speeds, was evaluated using Catapult OptimEye S5 player tracking devices. Distance covered in low intensity activity (LIA, ˂4.0 m.s-1), high intensity running (HIR, ≥4.0 m•s-1) and very high intensity running (VHIR, ≥5.5 m•s-1) was also examined along with PlayerLoad™, which represented a composite of all accelerations. Data from 53 players (n=405 files) was collated into specific match periods to facilitate a temporal analysis between the first and second halves and from quarter 1 (Q1) to quarter 4 (Q4), with significance accepted at p ≤ 0.05. Total distance and running was higher in games lost, whereas total distance, walking and LIA was higher in halves lost. Only walking was higher in quarters lost. The percentage of possession declined in halves and quarters lost. In games lost, high speed running declined in the second half. From Q1 to Q4; PlayerLoad™, total distance, jogging, high speed running, HIR and VHIR, decreased in all games combined and in games lost. Possession frequency declined in Q4 in all games and in games won. Overall, total distance was higher in games lost and physical performance declines were more pronounced when examined by match quarter compared to half and were only apparent in games lost. Similarly, reductions in possession frequency and percentage were more evident when examined by quarter or period lost, respectively. These findings can inform the prescription of conditioning and field-training strategies to mitigate the reductions in performance observed in losing and towards the end of games.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections