The Application of Accelerometer-Derived Moving Averages to Quantify Peak Demands in Basketball: A Comparison of Sample Duration, Playing Role, and Session Type
Jordan L. Fox, Daniele Conte, Robert Stanton, Blake D. McLean, Aaron T. Scanlan
Abstract
Abstract Fox, JL, Conte, D, Stanton, R, McLean, B, and Scanlan, AT. The application of accelerometer-derived moving averages to quantify peak demands in basketball: A comparison of sample duration, playing role, and session type. J Strength Cond Res 35(12S): S58–S63, 2021—The purpose of this was to study compare peak external workload intensities in basketball using accelerometer-derived moving averages between different sample durations (0.5–5 minutes), session types (training vs. game-play), and playing roles (starting vs. bench players). Five starting and 3 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 PlayerLoad per minute (PL·min −1 ) across sample durations of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes. Linear mixed-models and effect sizes (ESs) were used to compare peak PL·min −1 between sample durations, session type, and playing role. Peak PL·min −1 was significantly different between all sample durations ( p < 0.05; ES = 0.88–5.45), with higher intensities evident across shorter sample durations. In starting players, peak intensities were significantly higher during games compared with training for all sample durations ( p < 0.05; ES = 0.69–0.93). Peak game intensities were higher in starting players using all sample durations ( p > 0.05; ES = 0.69–1.43) compared with bench players. 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.