Author(s): UHRAS, B., TERVO, T., THEOS, A., Institution: SECTION OF SPORTS MEDICINE, Country: SWEDEN, Abstract-ID: 1987

INTRODUCTION:
Previous research conducted in floorball has focused on sports related injuries and on its health benefits for older adults [1, 2]. Monitoring players’ performance capabilities throughout the season has been previously examined in football players [3, 4], but no previous study has examined how competition season affects floorball players’ physical performance.
The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in pre- and postseason performance indices of Swedish adolescent floorball players.
METHODS:
A total of 420 adolescent floorball players, 232 boys (age:18.9 ± 0.8 years) and 188 girls (age:18.9 ± 0.8 years) participated in the study. Performance testing included pushups (upper body strength), one-leg sit to stand test (lower limb unilateral strength), broad jump (lower body power and explosiveness), 20m shuttle run test (aerobic endurance) and hexagonal obstacle (agility and coordination). The tests were conducted before (PRE) and directly after (POST) the 2022-23 floorball season. Differences in performance indices were analyzed with the use of paired t-test. The level of significance was set to α=0.05. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation.
RESULTS:
Performance in pushups (PRE: 20.0 ± 12.8 vs. POST: 20.9 ± 13.2 reps, p=0.03), one-leg sit to stand test left leg (PRE: 5.0 ± 1.4 sec vs. POST: 4.7 ± 1.1 sec, p<0.001) and right leg (PRE: 5.0 ± 1,3 sec vs. POST: 4.6 ± 1.1 sec, p<0.001) and hexagonal obstacle clockwise (PRE: 10.9 ± 1,6 sec vs. POST: 10.5 ± 1.3 sec, p<0.001) and anti-clockwise (PRE: 11.0 ± 1.5 sec vs. POST: 10.6 ± 1.4 sec, p<0.001) differed significantly between pre- and post-season. No statistically significant differences were observed in standing broad jump (PRE: 215 ± 27.3 cm vs. POST: 216 ± 30.2 cm, p=0.104) and 20m shuttle run test (PRE: 53.2 ± 7.13 ml/kg/min vs. POST: 52.8 ± 7.23 ml/kg/min, p=0.150).
CONCLUSION:
The findings suggest that in-season floorball training has positive effects in strength and agility performance indices but no significant effects in explosive strength and aerobic fitness, despite floorball’s high-intensity intermittent work character.

References:
1. Pasanen et al. (2008). Injury risk in female floorball: a prospective one-season follow-up. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 18(1), 49–54.
2. Wikman et al. (2017). The Effect of Floorball Training on Health Status, Psychological Health and Social Capital in Older Men. AIMS public health, 4(4), 364–382.
3. Emmonds et al. (2020). Seasonal Changes in the Physical Performance of Elite Youth Female Soccer Players. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 34(9), 2636–2643.
4. Meckel et al. (2018). Seasonal Variations in Physical Fitness and Performance Indices of Elite Soccer Players Sports, 6, 14.