Effects of short term camp periods on aerobic and anaerobic performance parameters in ice hockey national team athletes

Abstract

This study was conducted for determining the effects of trainings, applied to athletes during short term camp period, on their aerobic and anaerobic performance. Measurements were made by the participation of 28 volunteer male ice hockey national team players. During the 15-day camp period, 10-minute running and stretching for warming and then 40-minute jogging practice was performed in the mornings, and at evenings, following warming and stretching for the same lengths, general strength practices were applied. On the first and last day of the camp period, after making body weight and height measurements, respectively, the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) and 20m shuttle running tests were performed. The obtained data were evaluated by the paired-t test. As a result of the study, when the two measurements were compared, there was no significant difference found between speed, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and fatigue index (FI) (p>0,05); significant differences were found between the two measurements in heart rate (HR) during maximal loading (p<0,05). Based on these results; it was concluded that although trainings performed during short term camp period lowered number of heart beats at maximal running speed, this time was not sufficient for developing performance.