Physiological and Performance Distinctions Among NCAA Division III Field Hockey Athletes Across Position and Graduate Year
Location
Hopwood Auditorium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Presentation Type
Oral presentation
Entry Number
90
Start Date
4-16-2026 1:30 PM
End Date
4-16-2026 1:45 PM
School
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Department
Exercise Physiology
Keywords
Field hockey, Division III, VO2max, Physiology
Abstract
Field hockey is a high-intensity intermittent sport requiring a complex interplay of aerobic endurance, anaerobic capacity, muscular power, and optimal body composition to sustain repeated bouts of sprinting, directional changes, and technical skill execution. While extensive research has examined Division I and international athletes, limited data exist on NCAA Division III players, despite over 150 Division III programs in the United States. This gap restricts evidence-based training and performance optimization within this population. PURPOSE: This research will examine various physiological characteristics of field hockey players, including power, speed, agility, time spent in maximal heart rate zones, total distance covered during competition, body composition, and VO₂max. METHODS: In-game workload data will be collected using BeyondPulse monitoring devices worn during practices and competitions. Additional performance testing will occur outside of practice and will include a flying 10 sprint test for speed and a 5-10-5 agility test using Brower Timing Systems speed gates. Athletes will complete a five-minute step test to estimate VO₂max and undergo full-body bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to assess muscle and fat distribution.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Sean Collins, Dr. Jill Lucas, Dr. Paul McClure
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
Exercise Physiology, Westover Honor College
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Physiological and Performance Distinctions Among NCAA Division III Field Hockey Athletes Across Position and Graduate Year
Hopwood Auditorium
Field hockey is a high-intensity intermittent sport requiring a complex interplay of aerobic endurance, anaerobic capacity, muscular power, and optimal body composition to sustain repeated bouts of sprinting, directional changes, and technical skill execution. While extensive research has examined Division I and international athletes, limited data exist on NCAA Division III players, despite over 150 Division III programs in the United States. This gap restricts evidence-based training and performance optimization within this population. PURPOSE: This research will examine various physiological characteristics of field hockey players, including power, speed, agility, time spent in maximal heart rate zones, total distance covered during competition, body composition, and VO₂max. METHODS: In-game workload data will be collected using BeyondPulse monitoring devices worn during practices and competitions. Additional performance testing will occur outside of practice and will include a flying 10 sprint test for speed and a 5-10-5 agility test using Brower Timing Systems speed gates. Athletes will complete a five-minute step test to estimate VO₂max and undergo full-body bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to assess muscle and fat distribution.