Match Load Analysis of Substitutes in Elite Hurling Match-Play

O'Brien, John J., Coratella, G, and Young, D. Match load analysis of substitutes in elite hurling match-play. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-This study investigated the impact of substitutions on the work rate profiles of elite senior hurlers during match-play, focusing on game status and position. Global positional systems were used to collect data from 72 elite hurling players across 2 teams and 2 seasons (2022 and 2023). Players were categorized according to game status (full-game, subbed-off, subbed-on) and playing position (full-back, half-back, midfield, half-forward, full-forward). A total of 544 match samples were obtained from 30 games during the National Hurling League and Championship. Relative total, walking (≤6.9 km·hour-1), jogging (7-11.9 km·hour-1), running (12-16.9 km·hour-1), high-speed running (HSR; 17-21.9 km·hour-1), sprint (≥22.0 km·hour-1) and high-metabolic-load distance (HMLD; >25 W·kg-1), max velocity (km·hour-1), and sprints per minute (n) were analyzed. Subbed-on players outperformed both full-game and subbed-off players across multiple metrics. They covered greater relative total (ES = 0.65 and 0.40, respectively), running (ES = 0.65 and 0.37, respectively), HSR (ES = 1.05 and 0.66, respectively), sprint (ES = 0.78 and 0.33, respectively), HML distance (ES = 0.95 and 0.60, respectively), and sprints per minute (ES = 0.69 and 0.49, respectively). Subbed-on midfielders covered greater relative total (ES = 0.86), jogging (ES = 0.99), and running distance (ES = 1.13) compared with subbed-on full-forwards. These findings present key implications for substitute training, highlighting the need to expose players to full-game demands and maximum velocities within training. Additionally, playing position should also be considered when planning substitutions.