The Application Of Accelerometer-Derived Moving Averages To Quantify Peak Demands In Basketball: A Comparison Of Sample Duration, Playing Role, And Session Type

Fox J.L., Conte D., Stanton R., McLean B., Scanlan A.T.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare peak external workload intensities in basketball using accelerometer-derived moving averages between different sample durations (0.5 to 5 min), session types (training vs. game-play), and playing roles (starting vs. bench players).

Methods: Five starting and three bench players were monitored over a 15-week competitive season using accelerometers. For all training sessions and games, peak external workload intensities were determined using accelerometer-derived moving averages for PlayerLoadTM per minute (PL·min^-1) across sample durations of 0.5 min, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 4 min, and 5 min. Linear mixed-models and effect sizes (ES) were used to compare peak PL·min^-1 between sample durations, session type, and playing role.

Results: Peak PL·min^-1 was significantly different between all sample durations (P < 0.05, large-very large ES = 0.88-5.45), with higher intensities evident across shorter sample durations. In starting players, peak intensities were significantly higher during games compared to training for all sample durations (P < 0.05, moderate ES = 0.69-0.93). Peak game intensities were higher in starting players using all sample durations (P > 0.05, moderate-large ES = 0.69-1.43) compared to bench players.

Conclusions: Shorter sample durations produced higher peak PL·min^-1. Peak intensities were higher during games than training in starting players, indicating training may not adequately prepare players for the most demanding passages of game-play.