Relay exchanges in elite short track speed skating

HEXT, Andrew, HELLER, Ben, KELLEY, John and GOODWILL, Simon (2017). Relay exchanges in elite short track speed skating. European Journal of Sport Science, 17 (5), 503-510.

[img]
Preview
PDF
Hext et al - relay exchanges in elite short track speed skating (VoR).pdf - Published Version
Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (1MB) | Preview
Official URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/174613...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1276219

Abstract

In short track speed skating, the relay exchange provides an additional strategic component to races by allowing a team to change the skater involved in the pack race. Typically executed every 1 ½ laps, it is the belief of skaters and coaches that during this period of the race, time can be gained or lost due to the execution of the relay exchange. As such, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of the relay exchange on a team's progression through a 5000 m relay race. Using data collected from three World Cup relay events during the 2012-13 season, the time taken to complete the straight for the scenarios with and without the relay exchange were compared at different skating speeds for the corner exit prior to the straight. Overall, the influence of the relay exchange was found to be dependent on this corner exit speed. At slower corner exit speeds (12.01 - 13.5 m/s), relay exchange straight times were significantly faster than the free skating scenario (P < 0.01). Whilst at faster corner exit speeds (14.01 - 15 m/s), straight times were significantly slower (P < 0.001). The findings of this study suggest that the current norm of executing relay exchanges every 1 ½ laps may not be optimal. Instead, varying the frequency of relay exchange execution throughout the race could allow: (1) time to be gained relative to other teams; and (2) facilitate other race strategies by providing an improved opportunity to overtake.

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Centre for Sports Engineering Research
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1276219
Page Range: 503-510
Depositing User: Jill Hazard
Date Deposited: 21 Dec 2016 16:13
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 04:19
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14353

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics