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Review
. 2023 Jul;40(3):899-918.
doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2023.122479. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

Testing distance characteristics and reference values for ice-hockey straight sprint speed and acceleration. A systematic review and meta-analyses

Petr Stastny  1 , Martin Musalek  1 , Robert Roczniok  2 , Daniel Cleather  3 , Dominik Novak  1 , Michal Vagner  1
Affiliations
Review

Testing distance characteristics and reference values for ice-hockey straight sprint speed and acceleration. A systematic review and meta-analyses

Petr Stastny et al. Biol Sport. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Ice-hockey requires high acceleration and speed sprint abilities, but it is unclear what the distance characteristic is for measuring these capabilities. Therefore, this systematic meta-analysis aims to summarize the sprint reference values for different sprint distances and suggest the appropriate use of ice-hockey straight sprint testing protocols. A total of 60 studies with a pooled sample of 2254 males and 398 females aged 11-37 years were included. However, the pooled data for women was not large enough to permit statistical analysis. The sprint distance used for measuring the reported acceleration and speed was between 4-48 m. Increased test distance was positively associated with increased speed (r = 0.70) and negatively with average acceleration (r = -0.87). Forward skating sprint speed increases with the measured distance up to 26 m and do not differ much from longer distance tests, while acceleration decreases with a drop below 3 m/s at distances 15 m and longer. The highest acceleration (5.89 m/s2 peak, 3.31 m/s2 average) was achieved in the shortest distances up to 7 m which significantly differs from 8-14 m tests. The highest speed (8.1 m/s peak, 6.76 m/s average) has been recorded between 26-39 m; therefore, distances over 39 m are not necessary to achieve maximum speed. Considering match demands and most reported test distances, 6.1 m is the recommended distance for peak acceleration and 30 m for peak speed. The sprint time, acceleration, and speed of each individual and the number of skating strides should be reported in future studies.

Keywords: Anaerobic; Condition; Exercise; Sport training; Testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest directly relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
The flow chart of the systematic search for articles including ice-hockey forward sprint or acceleration data.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
The reported male sprint times during acceleration up to 25 m.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
The reported male sprint times during tests between 26 and 48 m distance.
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
The reported female sprint times during skating sprint tests.
FIG. 5
FIG. 5
Differences of forward skating acceleration and speed by testing distance (left graph) and their regression fit equation (right graph) with 95% confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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