SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT USED
All training sessions and games were videotaped using Hi 8 video cameras, with 8mm film being digitised at 30 frames per second, or digitised cameras. Cameras were fixed on tripods to minimise extraneous movement when videotaping. One video camera was used at each training session and four at games.
DATA COLLECTION – PRE SEASON TRAINING
Two pre-season training sessions were videotaped to ensure all aspects of training were covered (e.g. specific nights for skills, fitness and/or tactics). Written documentation of training sessions were independently recorded, in actual time, by at least two researchers. Inter-rater reliability was assessed on the written documentation, and both the written records were validated against the video footage.
The written notes of training sessions, including diagrams of the drills utilised in each sessions, were input into the computer as soon as possible after videotaping. A copy of each training session was printed out and the printouts kept in a locked filing cabinet. The name of study team did not appear on the printed documentation.
DATA COLLECTION – GAMES
Three games were videotaped: one in the first month, one in middle month and one in end month of the season (not including finals). Four cameras were used to follow one player from each positional group (n=4) throughout the entire game. Cameras remained stationary throughout the game and their positions were recorded.
DATA ANALYSIS BY POSITIONAL GROUPS
For analysis of fixtured games, players were divided into positional groupings as advised by the governing body of each sport and supported by published research. The movement patterns of one player from each group were analysed for the entire length of each of the games under review. The positional groups are detailed in Table 1.
Table 1 Positional groups for netball
Positional groups / Positions within each groupdefenders / goal keeper, goal defence
wings / wing attack, wing defence
centre / centre
shooters / goal shooter, goal attack)
CODED ACTIVITIES/MOVEMENTS
In order to perform the time-motion analysis of the videotaped footage, each second of the footage was viewed then quantified. It was therefore, necessary to devise a coding system for each movement and activity performed by athletes in each of the sports under review. Thus, the movements performed by players were coded into six speeds of locomotion and by discrete activities.
The six speeds of locomotion were: sprinting (running with maximal effort); running; jogging (running with no effort to stride or accelerate); utility (purposeful backwards and sideways shuffling movements); standing; and walking. The list of discrete activities used in the analysis were jump, pivot, catch, pass, shoot, defending, landing on one foot, landing on two feet, change of direction on the ground, change of direction in the air and other
DATA ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT
Video evidence of preseason training and game play, during the 2001 winter playing season, was collected. The training videotapes were transcribed, detailing every component of the sessions, including timing per minute.
The raw game footage was viewed by trained programmers using a sports specific computer coding system (n=12 hours). One player from each of the positional groups (n=4) was followed for the entire length of each of the games chosen. If the player followed was substituted or removed for play, their replacement player was followed.
The data were coded (in seconds) and used to calculate positional specificity of work loads; work output in the first and second halves or each quarter of the game; the differences between the work output of each positional group; and work to rest ratios. The work-to-rest ratios were obtained by dividing the duration of high intensity activities (e.g. sprinting and running) by the duration of rest activities (e.g. standing, walking, jogging and utility movements).
Findings from the time-motion analyses provided the evidence upon which training regimes were developed that simulate game-play requirements by position. This approach has been used extensively to assess elite-level participants but seldom at the community-level of sports participation.