A COMPARISON OF PRACTICE AND GAME DEMANDS AND JUMP PERFORMANCE ACROSS A SEASON IN NCAA DIVISION 1 WOMEN BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

The purpose of this study was to compare workload and intensity between pre-season and in-season and practice and games in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 (NCAA D1) women basketball players. A third purpose was also to analyse changes in vertical jump performance pre-season and in-season. Participants on a NCAA D1 team (N = 5; age = 22.8 ± 0.84 yrs; height = 170.2 ± 6.5 cm; weight = 68 ± 4.3 kg) volunteered to participate. Workload (WL) and intensity (WI) were monitored live every practice and game during the first 12 weeks of the official season using inertial measurement unit technology. Maximum vertical jump height (MVJ) assessment took place prior to the season, after week six and week 12. Pre-season WL (2926.0 AU) was significantly higher than the in-season (2057.6 AU) and decreased within each season (p = 0.043). While an increase in WI occurred during the pre-season (5.5 vs 6 AU/min), in-season WI was greater than pre-season (5.08 vs 7 AU/min) primarily due to greater game intensity compared to practices (5.4 vs 10.9 AU/min). Vertical jump height did not significantly change after the pre-season (279.5 ± 13.1 cm vs 278.1 ± 12.0 cm) but increased during the in-season (283.6 ± 14.5 cm; z = 2.22, p = 0.026). For starting players, WL is similar in practice and games while game WI is greater resulting in greater in-season WI. The improvement in MVJ indicated that the players responded favourably to the decrease in WL within and between seasons along with increased WI during the on-court practice and games. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR