Kieran Collins, Dominic Doran, James Morton & Allistair McRobert (2015) Presented at the In: Proceedings of the 12th Annual Conference of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 17-19th September, Dublin, 2015.
Introduction: The range of factors which effect performance during hurling match-play creates a challenge for a research scientist to identify the effectiveness of a training intervention or ergogenic aid. The aim of the current study was to determine the reliability of an intermittent multidirectional hurling simulation protocol. Methods: Twenty sub-elite Gaelic games players (age 21±3 years; 176±5.5 cm; 79±5 kg; 57±3 mL.kg-1.min-1) undertook a hurling simulation on 2 separate occasions, with performance and physiological monitoring no more than 7 days apart. Reliability was assessed using the log transformed typical error and the coefficient of variation. Results: Participants covered 110±2 m.min-1 with, 91±2 m.min-1 at low speed (0-16.9 km.hr-1) and 19±2 m.min-1 at high speed (>17 km.hr-1) of which 6±2 m.min-1 was at very high speeds (>22 km.hr-1). Participants undertook 226±7 accelerations during the protocol. The simulation elicited an average heart rate of 82±3 % HRmax. The most reliable aspect of the hurling simulation protocol (lowest CV%) was total distance m.min-1 whilst all of the other measured variables demonstrated a CV% of less than 5% aside from very high speed running distance (27.1%). Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest the hurling simulation is reproducible and simulates the demands of hurling match-play. The hurling simulation protocol should be regarded as a basic model of match-play, replicating some, but not every aspect of elite hurling performance.