Author(s): POJSKIC, H., TILLAAR, R.V.D., ANDERSSON, H., Institution: LINNAEUS UNIVERSITY, Country: SWEDEN, Abstract-ID: 728

INTRODUCTION:
Sprint skating is an essential skill in bandy, crucial for executing game-specific tasks [1,2]. Previous studies in ice hockey showed that lower-body strength and power, as well as anaerobic power, could predict maximal skating velocity [3,4]. However, no studies have examined the physical determinants of linear sprinting performance in bandy. Thus, this study aimed to examine the correlation between physical capacities and linear skating parameters in bandy players.
METHODS:
Fifteen well-trained male bandy players [age: 19.5±3.3 years; height: 1.83±0.05 m; body mass: 78.4±8.5 kg; BMI: 23.4±2.5 kg/m2; body fat: 10.3±4.1%; skeletal muscle mass = 51.6±2.4%] completed two 80m skating sprints. A laser gun was used to measure the distance over time, and the maximal velocity, maximal force (acceleration), average, and peak power were calculated. Physical capacities were assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), isometric belt squat, and a Wingate test. Pearson´s correlation (r) was used to investigate the strength and direction of the correlations between physical capacity measurements and linear skating parameters.
RESULTS:
The analysis revealed that peak skating velocity had only positive, significant correlations with CMJ height [r(13) = 0.59, p<0.05] and Wingate relative peak power [r(13) =0.63, p<0.05]. There were no significant correlations between body composition and linear skating parameters.
CONCLUSION:
Players with greater ability to exert force rapidly demonstrated higher skating speed. Lower-body power, assessed by the CMJ and Wingate tests (i.e., peak power relative to body weight), significantly correlated with maximal skating velocity. These findings corroborate previous research in ice hockey, demonstrating that lower-body power is an important determinant of maximal skating speed [3,4]. The correlations can be explained by biomechanical similarities between the hip and ankle muscles involved in the tests and those involved in the propulsive (e.g., the quadriceps, gluteus maximus, and soleus) and gliding (e.g., the biceps femoris) phases of skating [5]. On the other hand, the SJ did not correlate with linear skating parameters, which can be explained by the fact that the SJ measures only concentric muscle action, whereas both the CMJ and skating involve rapid transitions between eccentric and concentric muscle actions. Similarly, the isometric belt squat did not correlate with skating speed, indicating that players' ability to produce muscular force is insufficient unless it is produced rapidly, as assessed by the CMJ. Contrary to our expectations, the body composition did not significantly correlate with the linear skating parameters. In conclusion, lower-body power was shown to be a good determinant of skating speed, suggesting that power testing and training should be an important part of bandy players' training programs.

References
1&2 v.d. Tillaar et al. (2023) 3. Silvestri et al. (2025) 4. Rice et al. (2025) 5. Kaartinen et al. (2021)