Comparision of Game Data Between Halves and Quarters in Division I Women’s Lacrosse

The purpose of this study was to compare in-game external load demands from the previous game format (two, 30-min halves) to the new format (four, 15-min quarters) in collegiate women’s lacrosse. External workload variables (total distance, high-intensity distance [HID], sprints, sprint distance, accelerations, and decelerations) were collected via microtechnology per minute of athlete (n = 13) playing time by half (H) for year one (Y1) and by quarter (Q) for year 2 (Y2). In H1, Y2 registered more distance (Y2: 179 ± 37 m/min, Y1: 69 ± 45 m/min), HID (Y2: 26.4 ± 9.8 m/min, Y1: 6.5 ± 5.0 m/min), accelerations (Y2: 3.2 ± 0.8 reps/min, Y1: 1.4 ± 0.9 reps/min), decelerations (Y2: 1.0 ± 0.3 reps/min, Y2: 0.4 ± 0.3 reps/min, all P < 0.001), sprints (Y2: 0.36 ± 0.25 reps/min, Y1: 0.07 ± 0.06 reps/min, P = 0.006) and sprint distance (Y2: 13.2 ± 8.7 m/min, Y1: 2.3 ± 2.0 m/min, P = 0.004). Y2 was greater in H2 for distance (Y2: 175 ± 24 m/min, Y1: 109 ± 28 m/min, P < 0.001), HID (Y2: 21.1 ± 0.6 m/min, Y1: 9.9 ± 3.3 m/min, P < 0.001), sprints (Y2: 0.29 ± 0.19 reps/min, Y1: 0.11 ± 0.04 reps/min, P = 0.003), accelerations (Y2: 2.8 ± 0.6 reps/min, Y1: 2.1 ± 0.5 reps/min, P = 0.003), decelerations (Y2: 0.9 ± 0.2 reps/min, Y1: 0.5 ± 0.1 reps/min, P = 0.001) and sprint distance (Y2: 10.6 ± 6.4 m/min, Y1: 3.7 ± 1.4 m/min, P = 0.002). Differences in whole game was found for sprints (Y2: 0.24 ± 0.3 reps/min, Y1: 0.11 ± 0.05 reps/min, P = 0.009). The new competitive format presented a greater demand for players, with more high-intensity efforts and greater anaerobic demand. Coaches can use this information as key performance indicators to develop and alter training to focus on meeting higher-intensity game demands.