The player load associated with typical activities in elite netball

PURPOSE: Previous investigations of player load in netball have utilised subjective methodologies, with few utilising objective methodologies. Whilst all studies report differences in player activities or total load between playing positions, it is unclear how the differences in player activity explain differences in positional load. The aim of this study was to objectively quantify the load associated with typical activities for all positions in elite netball. METHODS: The player load of all playing positions in an elite netball team, was measured during matches using wearable accelerometers. Video recordings of the matches were also analysed, to record the start-time and duration of 13 commonly reported netball activities. The load associated with each activity was determined by time-aligning both datasets (load and activity). RESULTS: Off-ball guarding produced the highest player load per instance, while jogging produced the greatest player load per match. Non-locomotor activities contributed least to total match load for attacking positions (GS, GD and WA) and most for defending positions (GK, GD and WD). Specifically, C produced the greatest jogging load, WA and WD accumulated the greatest running load, while GS and WA accumulated the greatest shuffling load. WD and C accumulated the greatest guarding load, while WD and GK accumulated the greatest off-ball guarding load. CONCLUSIONS: All positions exhibited different contributions from locomotor and non-locomotor activities towards total match load. Additionally, the same activity can have different contributions towards total match load, depending on the position. This has implications for future design and implementation of positional specific training programs.