A time-motion analysis of Paralympic football for athletes with cerebral palsy

Abstract

International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching * in 2013 CPISRA made changes to the rules and now only one C8 is permitted to play at any given time 2 ABSTRACT To investigate the soccer match-play work of players with Cerebral Palsy (CP), 40 elite players were monitored for cardiovascular and locomotive demands of tournament match-play. Using GPS and HR monitors, total distance travelled, distance travelled at high intensity (HI) and very high intensity (VHI)(m); frequency of HI and VHI activity; heart rate (HR). Disability classes C5/6, C7, C8 were compared. The results showed C8 players covered the greatest distance. Frequency, contribution and maximum speed of HI and VHI activity was greater in C8. There was a progressive decline in distances covered in all classes across match quarters. C8 spent more time above 85% HRmax. No differences were observed between C5/6 and C7 classes. In conclusion, C8 players most notably perform best in VHI activity associated with gamedefining moments. C5/6 and C7 players performed equitably. This study is the first to provide an insight for practitioners and coaches interested in the work rates in soccer for athletes with CP.

Activity limitation and match load in para‐footballers with cerebral palsy: An approach for evidence‐based classification

“…Similar results were found comparing FT7 vs FT8, excepting for the distance covered sprinting, but with moderate effect size. These results are in line with those from previous studies in this population, [15][16][17] confirming that FT8 players most notably perform best in very high-intensity activity associated with game-defining moments, while no differences are found between FT5/FT6 vs FT7 players. Among all the variables obtained by the GPS records, those related with high-intensity actions are particularly relevant in CP Football performance, 17 so small-sided games replicating those actions have been recently included in the classification protocols for this para-sport.…”

“…Due to playing restrictions on class distribution and the smaller outfield player sample size of these FT classes, data from FT5 and FT6 were pooled (FT5/6, n = 9, 24 ± 8 y; 177.9 ± 5.0 cm; 70.2 ± kg; 22.1 ± kg·m −2 ). Conversely, FT7 (n = 32, 22 ± 5 y; 175.0 ± 7.9 cm; 68.6 ± 9.7 kg; 22.4 ± 11.0 kg·m −2 ) and FT8 (n = 7, 27 ± 11 y; 169.3 ± 2.9 cm; 72.0 ± 11.0 kg; 25.1 ± 3.6 kg·m −2 ) players tend to be outfield players and so no such sampling issues were of concern . All participants gave their written informed consent to take part in this study.…”

“…Match analysis in CP Football, using GPS devices, has been addressed as a valid tool to describe game demands 15,16 but also to describe players' proficiency according to their functional profile. 15,17 This study demonstrates that those para-footballers considered as "lower classes" for the game 2 exhibit less Vel max , cover shorter distances sprinting, also performing less High Acc and Moderate Dec than those with mild forms of impairment. Similar results were found comparing FT7 vs FT8, excepting for the distance covered sprinting, but with moderate effect size.…”

“…On the other hand, in CPFP the external match load (ML) indicators have also been analyzed such as distance covered at different speeds, 15 accelerations, decelerations, player load (PL), peak metabolic power (PMP), and changes of direction (CODs), 16 comparing between the current sport classes and/or the playing time. [15][16][17] However, there are no previous studies in para-athletes with coordination/brain impairments analyzing the strength of the relationships among the tests that evaluate the activity limitation caused by the eligible impairment and performance during a real team game. Knowing the association between the activity limitation and the real game (ie, external ML) would allow CP Football classifiers to better understand the sport proficiency required in this para-sport for each sport class or player profile.…”

Validity and Reliability of a Test Battery to Assess Change of Directions with Ball Dribbling in Para-footballers with Cerebral Palsy

“…It should be mentioned that the sport class distributions obey the para-sport rules, where two players of the sport classes FT5/FT6 must be on the field of play and no more than one FT8 player would be included in the line-up. Nevertheless, the large effect sizes when comparing FT8 para-footballers with the other three sport classes demonstrated that those with a lower level of impairment exhibit better sports performance [2][3][4]8,19,21,34]. In addition, it was found that FT6 players performed the worst in all the tests, reinforcing the idea that those with dyskinesia or ataxia would be those para-athletes in which brain injury may affect, to a higher extent, sports performance (i.e., limitation of activity) when multiple skills are required.…”