Movement Characteristics of International and Elite Domestic Netball

<p dir="ltr">A base of high-quality research is necessary for developing robust literature, and is required before advancing to more complex research. In applied sports settings, practitioners can apply research to practice to support athlete development (e.g., physical preparation). Although netball is among the most popular women’s sports, a limited literature base currently exists in comparison to other team sports. Therefore, this thesis aims to contribute to building the foundation of netball literature, focused on the characteristics of netball match-play. This thesis includes four studies which 1) develop a framework of descriptors and definitions for netball literature and practice, 2/3) assess the reliability and validity of a commonly used microtechnology device in court-sports, and 4) quantify and compare the movement characteristics of elite domestic and international level match-play. Using a Delphi consensus method, study 1 established 25 physical, 29 technical and 41 contextual descriptors and definitions to standardise netball terminology. Studies 2 and 3 identified only inertial movement analysis (IMA) detected jump events and PlayerLoadTM variables are recommended for use in court-sports, following the reliability and validity analysis. The IMA event algorithm for detecting accelerations, decelerations and change-of-direction (COD) events was limited in female court-sport athletes and requires further development. Study 4 observed differences in match-play movement characteristics between competition levels and playing positions. Intensity metrics (e.g., PlayerLoad per minute) were greater at the international level, whereas volume metrics (e.g., PlayerLoadTM) were greater at the domestic level, suggesting that practitioners should focus on match-play intensity when transitioning players from domestic to international competition. Advanced analysis also identified individual variations in movement characteristics for players competing at both levels, supporting more individualised training. In conclusion this thesis develops a framework to support the standardisation of terminology in netball literature and practice, provides guidance on the recommended metrics for quantifying court-sport movement characteristics, and establishes these movement characteristics of elite domestic and international level netball match-play, contributing to the foundation of netball literature.</p>