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Physical profiling in lacrosse: a brief review

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this review is to provide coaches and practitioners with a summary of the strategies to monitor and quantify external loads of lacrosse players. The recommendation, to effectively monitor and quantify locomotive behaviour of lacrosse players, is based on the summary of physical characteristics that are investigated.

Methods

A search of previous literature was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, and other scholarly search engines linked with Australian Catholic University’s database. A variety of articles associated with lacrosse, monitoring, and technology were collected and examined for this review.

Results

One of the most common injury sites, for lacrosse players, is the anterior crucial ligament (ACL). It was suggested that non-contact ACL injuries are sustained during vast decelerations and change of direction. Descriptive physical characteristics have been examined in both men’s and women’s lacrosse, suggesting that some of the speed, power, and change of direction qualities are comparable to basketball, soccer, and track athletes. Physical profiling consists of collecting and comparing athletic attributes within individuals. As more technology becomes available, the demands to monitor locomotive patterns increase. Global positioning systems (GPS) wearable technology has shown to be a valid, reliable approach for quantifying running-based activities during match play.

Conclusions

This review has presented a construction of appropriate literature surrounding monitoring protocols, together with, describing physical attributes within the sport of lacrosse. Although the need for more research in women’s lacrosse is acknowledged, this review provides coaches and practitioners with an insight to some monitoring protocols.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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  1. Performance Department, Orlando City Soccer Club, 845 Lake Markham Road, Sanford, FL, 32771, USA

    Alexander R. Calder

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  1. Alexander R. Calder
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Correspondence to Alexander R. Calder.

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Calder, A.R. Physical profiling in lacrosse: a brief review. Sport Sci Health 14, 475–483 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-018-0499-1

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