Match analysis in rink hockey: a systematic review

The purpose of this paper was to review the available literature on match analysis in rink hockey. To be included in this review, the publications should have been written in English or Portuguese, have contained relevant data about match analysis in rink hockey, and have been published as original papers, reviews, book chapters, or academic works. A systematic review of Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Scopus, b-on, and Open Access Scientific Portuguese Repository (RCAAP) was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines on July 24, 2020. A risk-of-bias quality form was adapted to evaluate the publications. To make a fair comparison between studies of different designs, a percentage score was calculated as a final measure of methodological quality. From the 20 selected studies, 8 were classified as having excellent methodological quality and 12 had good methodological quality. To organize the results, the material was categorized in 2 analysis levels: (i) dependent on the type of analysis performed; (ii) based on the type of variables analysed. This review highlights that rink hockey could be characterized as a sport where half of the offensive actions end with a shot at goal, but only a small number of these shots end with a goal. Furthermore, there are differences in technical demands between player positions and reductions in movement intensity in the second halves of matches. Future research should provide more scientific knowledge on the sport, using new technologies and new approaches to study tactical sequential events.