The Match Heart-Rate and Running Profile of Elite Under 21 Hurlers During Competitive Match-Play

The aims of the current study were to examine the physical and physiological demands of elite under-21 male hurling match-play across halves of play and between positions. Global positioning systems (10-Hz) and heart rate (HR) monitors were used to collect data from 95 players during 10 games. Total distance (TD), relative speed, high-speed running (HSR), sprint distance, total sprints and mean length of sprint was 6688 ± 942 m, 112 ± 16 m·min, 661 ± 203 m, 274 ± 111 m, 18 ± 8 and 16 ± 5 m respectively. Players' mean HR (HRmean) and peak HR (HRpeak) was 165 ± 9 b·min and 190 ± 7 b·min respectively. Decrements in TD (p < 0.05, ES = 0.81), HSR (p < 0.05, ES = 0.69), and HRmean (p < 0.05, ES = 0.80) were found between halves. Full-backs covered significantly less TD than half-backs (p < 0.05, ES = -1.24), midfielders (p < 0.05, ES = -1.39), and half-forwards (p < 0.05, ES = -1.85). Half-forwards covered a greater TD than full-forwards (p < 0.05, ES = 0.94), greater HSR than full-backs (p < 0.05, ES = 1.13), and sprint distance than half-backs (p < 0.05, ES = 1.41). Between-half decreases were evident in TD, HSR and HRmean with no significant positional differences observed in TD, HSR, number of sprints, length of sprint, HRpeak and HRmean between half-backs, midfielders and half-forwards. The current findings provide data that coaches should consider to customize training program design for under-21 hurlers.