Rink hockey team performance and technical determinants of the game: a full-season analysis

Abstract

Purpose. This study aimed to analyse the correlations between individual technical determinants and the overall team performance in rink hockey sport. Methods. Retrospective observational data were collected from 182 matches played by 14 teams competing at the first division of the Portuguese national senior rink hockey championship (full season, 2018/19). Goals scored, goals conceded, direct free-hits, penalties, and final classifications were collected by team, on the basis of the official scoresheets of the games, validated by the official referees. Results. The results revealed that direct free-hits were more prevalent, although teams were more effective on penalties (40.4%) than direct free-hits (27.1%). Strong inverse relationships between direct free-hits effectiveness and final classification in the league (r = –0.71, p = 0.004) as well as penalties (r = –0.58, p = 0.029) were found. The effectiveness of the technical determinants, penalties, and direct free-hits increased with the proficiency of the teams in the classification. However, the bottom teams experienced significantly higher weights of these technical determinants on the team’s total goals scored (1st–4th: 15.3%, 5th–9th: 25.6%, 10th–14th: 23.9%; p < 0.05). Conclusions. In conclusion, individual technical determinants’ effectiveness was a strong predictor of team performance, accounting for at least 22.1% of the total goals scored in the full season, highlighting athletes’ specialization in the training process.