Relationship Between GPS-Derived Match-Play Running Demands and Years of Experience in Elite Hurling

The current study investigated the relationship between match-play running demands and years of elite hurling experience across the 2021–2023 seasons. Sixty-eight (mean ± SD; Age: 25.5 ± 3.6 years, Mass: 87.5 ± 5.0 kg, Height: 184.2 ± 4.9 cm, Years Elite Experience: 5.3 ± 3.5 years) male elite intercounty hurlers participated. Each participant wore a global positioning system (GPS) unit sampling at 10 Hz (STATSports, Apex, Northern Ireland), and if they played ≥70 min, they were included in the analyses. Distance metrics analysed in metres were total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR) (≥19.8 km·h−1), sprint distance (≥25.2 km·h−1), and high metabolic load distance (HMLD) (≥25.5 W·kg−1). Participants were split into observational groups based on their years of elite experience: Emerging: 1–3 years, Established: 4–6 years, Seasoned: 7+ years. Emerging players covered less HSR (p = 0.039, ES = 0.25, small) and sprint distance (p = 0.019, ES = 0.28, small) compared to Established players. Seasoned players covered fewer TD and HMLD compared to Emerging players (TD: p < 0.001, ES = 0.31, small; HMLD: p < 0.001, ES = 0.34, small) and Established players (TD: p < 0.001, ES = 0.51, small; HMLD: p < 0.001, ES = 0.32, small). The results identified differences in match-play running demands based on years of elite experience. These findings may guide experience-specific conditioning strategies.