(29) USING GPS TRACKING TO MONITOR EXTERNAL LOAD OF NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN’S LACROSSE ATHLETES IN OUT-OF-CONFERENCE GAMES

Background: External load monitoring is important in sport science for training and safety purposes. Research related to external load monitoring during NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse is limited. Specifically, there is no published data regarding out-of-conference games in NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe external load norms during NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse out-of-conference games.

Methods: 15 athletes wore GPS trackers (Sports Performance Tracking® 10 Hz) during their out-of-conference games. Means and standard deviations were calculated for the variables of interest: 2D load (au), 3D load (au), total distance (m), work rate (m/min) and hard running distance (m). Hard running distance was defined as distance covered at a speed > 4.5 m · s^-1.

Results: Analyzing a total of five out-of-conference games, the following information is reported in means and standard deviations. The analysis reported 2D load average = 237 ± 106 au. Alternatively, the average 3D load (360 ± 161 au) was higher. Additionally, the average total distance for all out-of-conference games was = 5486.9 ± 1893.1 m. Furthermore, the average hard running distance was = 470.4 ± 593.9 m. As a function of distance covered per unit of time, the average work rate was = 44.6 ± 13.8 (m · min^-1) CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that Division II women’s lacrosse has substantial, but different in-game performance and load metrics when compared to other published Division I women’s lacrosse research studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: External load data in NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse games can be used to help coaches and training staff optimize practice plans and game scheduling. They could also be used to create better conditioning strategies and help to prevent overuse injuries.

Acknowledgements: None