(47) SEASON-LONG EVALUATION OF WORKLOAD DURING A DIVISION III WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON

Purpose: This study was designed to objectively quantify the extrinsic and intrinsic workloads of a Division III NCAA women’s basketball team though a season.

Methods: All on-court practice sessions and games were recorded using the Polar Team Pro system with 17 members of a university team. Extrinsic load was calculated from total accelerations and decelerations (TAD) as well as “high intensity” movements, those above 2.0 m*sec^-2 (HIIM). Intrinsic load was characterized from heart rate (HR) data including average HR, time in five HR zones (HRZ) ranging from 50%-100% of HR max, and Edwards’ summated HRZ model (SHRZ), and estimated energy expenditure (EE). Season phases were compared using generalized linear mixed model analyses due to the nested structure of data and non-normal distribution of values. Body composition and vertical jump were assessed pre- and postseason and compared using paired t-tests.

Results: Seasonal analysis of preseason, non-conference play, in-conference play, and postseason displayed significantly lower TAD and HIIM*week^-1 in the preseason than during any other phase. No difference between phases existed, however, when TAD and HIIM were expressed per minute. Extrinsic load was characterized by a low number of TAD*min^-1 throughout the season. Time spent in HRZs varied through the season. Preseason sessions were characterized by lower-intensity, but longer sessions, with substantial time in HRZ-1, HRZ-2, and HRZ-3. Time spent above 90% (HRZ-5) increased throughout the regular season with a concomitantly decreased time at intermediate intensities (HRZ-2 and HRZ-3). Total workload per week varied greatly throughout the season. The highest weekly SHRZ values were seen during the late in-conference play, followed by a substantial reduction in training volume, but not intensity distribution (% time in HRZs) in the postseason. The acute: chronic workload (ACWR) calculated from weekly SHRZ undulated through the season and peaked during in-conference play. Fitness measures were unchanged pre-post.

Conclusions: Extrinsic workload reflected a relatively low total acceleration count, yet a higher proportion of movements at high intensity. HR data also showed substantial time spent in HRZ-1 and HRZ-2. Both suggest a substantial portion of time spent at low intensities, interspersed with frequent high-intensity accelerations. This is characteristic of the sport of basketball and may reflect time for instruction during training. Longer practices and the absence of games contributed to higher per-session SHRZ and EE in the preseason; however, EE per minute and average HR values illustrate greater intensity as the season progressed. The high weekly workloads observed during the late regular season appeared to be due to an increased distribution of time spent at higher intrinsic workloads (in HRZ-4 and HRZ-5). A reduction in training volume with a maintained intensity distribution during postseason reflects a taper in training during the three-week championship season. Notably, a lack of change in fitness measures suggests performance capacity was sustained for the team throughout the season.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: As the first study to objectively identify extrinsic load, intrinsic load, and ACWR in a Division III women’s basketball team, findings present novel data. Data suggests a highly undulating training program with a late season taper neither served to improve fitness capacity of the players, nor to reduce it.

Acknowledgements: None