Abstract:
Validation ofan Ice Skating Protocol to Predict Aerobic Power in Hockey Players
In assessing the physiological capacity of ice hockey players, researchers have
often reported the outcomes from different anaerobic skate tests, and the general physical
fitness of participants. However, with respect to measuring the aerobic power of ice
hockey players, few studies have reported a sport-specific protocol, and currently there is
a lack of cohort-specific information describing aerobic power based on evaluations
using an on-ice protocol.
The Faught Aerobic Skating Test (FAST) uses an on-ice continuous skating
protocol to induce a physical stress on a participant's aerobic energy system. The FAST
incorporates the principle of increasing workloads at measured time intervals during a
continuous skating exercise. Regression analysis was used to determine the estimate of
aerobic power within gender and age level. Data were collected on 532 hockey players,
(males=384, females=148) ranging in age between 9 and 25 years. Participants
completed a laboratory test to measure aerobic power using a modified Bruce protocol,
and the on-ice FAST.
Regression equations were developed for six male and female, age-specific
cohorts separately. The most consistent predictors were weight and final stage completed
on the FAST. These results support the application of the FAST to estimate aerobic
power among hockey players with R^ values ranging from 0.174 to 0.396 and SEE
ranging from 5.65 to 8.58 ml kg' min'' depending on the cohort. Thus we conclude that
FAST to be an accurate predictor of aerobic power in age and gender-specific hockey
playing cohorts.
