Physical Preparation for Elite-Level Squash Players: Monitoring, Assessment, and Training Practices for the Strength and Conditioning Coach

Gibson, Neil; Bell, Paul; Clyne, Alan; Lobban, Greg; Aitken, Lisa; Gibbon, Katrina

doi:10.1519/ssc.0000000000000449

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Elite male squash players are reported to exhibit a mean energy expenditure of 4933 ± 620 kJ.h − 1 , mean heart rate of 92 ± 3% heart rate maximum and mean respiratory exchange ratio of 0.94 ± 0.06 throughout simulated match play [ 3 ], conveying the high intensity nature of the sport [ 1 ]. At elite standard, players are reported to train for more than 12 h per week, with squash-specific sessions such as pressure sessions and continuous rallies eliciting heart rates above 90% heart rate maximum [ 4 , 5 ]. Due to the high energetic demands of elite squash, adequate energy intake is required to optimise health and physical performance [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elite squash players nutrition knowledge and influencing factors

Turner

Mitchell

Ruddock

et al. 2021

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

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Background There is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players. Suboptimal dietary practices could be due to a lack of nutrition knowledge among players. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to assess the sports nutrition knowledge of elite squash players through the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ) and provide an indication of whether players require nutrition support to increase their nutrition knowledge. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the nutrition knowledge of 77 elite squash players via the NSKQ over the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Results Players conveyed average nutrition knowledge with a mean NSKQ score of 48.78 ± 10.06 (56.07% ± 11.56%). There were no significant differences in NSKQ score between male and female players (p = .532). There was found to be a weak positive association between world ranking and NSKQ score (r = .208) and age and NSKQ score (r = .281). Players who had a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. BSc Sport & Exercise Science) had significantly greater NSKQ score than players with no relevant qualifications (p = .022). Players who consulted a sports nutritionist to obtain their main source of nutrition information were shown to have significantly greater knowledge than those who acquired knowledge from a sports scientist (p = .01) or the internet / social media (p = .007). Conclusions Players should consult with a sports nutritionist to increase their sport nutrition knowledge. Future research should quantify the effectiveness of a nutritional education intervention at increasing nutrition knowledge in players.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elite squash players nutrition knowledge and influencing factors

Turner

Mitchell

Ruddock

et al. 2021

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

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“…Elite squash players’ training sessions aim to replicate the high intensity demands of the sport to prepare players appropriately for the rigours of match play [ 3 ]. Elite squash players are purported to have high training loads, often engaging in more than one training session per day, spending a total training time greater than 12 h per week, with much training eliciting heart rates greater than 90% heart rate maximum [ 3 , 4 ]. Consequently, these high training loads may increase the hydration demands of players, as there is less time to rehydrate from one session to the next.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, most of these training sessions take place indoors. High exercise intensities, as experienced during elite squash players’ training sessions [ 3 , 4 ], elevate the body’s core temperature [ 5 ]. Indeed, 39 min of competitive match play among national standard squash players has been shown to increase core temperature by approximately 1–2 °C (~37 °C to ~39 °C) [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluid Balance, Sodium Losses and Hydration Practices of Elite Squash Players during Training

et al. 2023

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Elite squash players are reported to train indoors at high volumes and intensities throughout a microcycle. This may increase hydration demands, with hypohydration potentially impairing many key performance indicators which characterise elite squash performance. Consequently, the main aim of this study was to quantify the sweat rates and sweat [Na+] of elite squash players throughout a training session, alongside their hydration practices. Fourteen (males = seven; females = seven) elite or world class squash player’s fluid balance, sweat [Na+] and hydration practices were calculated throughout a training session in moderate environmental conditions (20 ± 0.4 °C; 40.6 ± 1% RH). Rehydration practices were also quantified post-session until the players’ next training session, with some training the same day and some training the following day. Players had a mean fluid balance of −1.22 ± 1.22% throughout the session. Players had a mean sweat rate of 1.11 ± 0.56 L·h−1, with there being a significant difference between male and female players (p < 0.05), and a mean sweat (Na+) of 46 ± 12 mmol·L−1. Players training the following day were able to replace fluid and sodium losses, whereas players training again on the same day were not. These data suggest the variability in players hydration demands and highlight the need to individualise hydration strategies, as well as training prescription, to ensure players with high hydration demands have ample time to optimally rehydrate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, an important research aim in sports medicine has been to understand the relationship between the intensity or volume of training and the type and grade of injuries mainly due to overuse, particularly following stroke training [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. During the last few years, some researchers have focused on injuries in squash [ 18 ]. Horsley et al [ 19 ] studied the diversity of injuries suffered by professional squash players in both training and competition through a survey of injury records between 2004–2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Coordination between Agonist and Antagonist Elbow Muscles during Backhand Crosscourt Shots in Adult Female Squash Players

Akl

Hassan

El-Gizawy

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The purpose of this study was to quantify the coordination between agonist and antagonist elbow muscles during squash backhand crosscourt shots in adult female players. Ten right-handed, international-level, female squash players participated in the study. The electrical muscle activity of two right elbow agonist/antagonist muscles, the biceps brachii and triceps brachii, were recorded using a surface EMG system, and processed using the integrated EMG to calculate a co-activation index (CoI) for the preparation phase, the execution phase, and the follow-through phase. A significant effect of the phases on the CoI was observed. Co-activation was significantly different between the follow-through and the execution phase (45.93 ± 6.00% and 30.14 ± 4.11%, p < 0.001), and also between the preparation and the execution phase (44.74 ± 9.88% and 30.14 ± 4.11%, p < 0.01). No significant difference was found between the preparation and the follow-through phase (p = 0.953). In conclusion, the co-activation of the elbow muscles varies within the squash backhand crosscourt shots. The highest level of co-activation was observed in the preparation phase and the lowest level of co-activation was observed during the execution. The co-activation index could be a useful method for the interpretation of elbow muscle co-activity during a squash backhand crosscourt shot.

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Physical Preparation for Elite-Level Squash Players: Monitoring, Assessment, and Training Practices for the Strength and Conditioning Coach

Cited by 8 publications

References 34 publications

Elite squash players nutrition knowledge and influencing factors

Elite squash players nutrition knowledge and influencing factors

Fluid Balance, Sodium Losses and Hydration Practices of Elite Squash Players during Training

Quantifying Coordination between Agonist and Antagonist Elbow Muscles during Backhand Crosscourt Shots in Adult Female Squash Players

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