TABLE 2.
Mean ± standard deviation and statistical comparison for each dependent variable between matches characterized by different durations.
| Dependent Variable | League | LMRL vs. WBHL | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WBHL |
LMRL |
LMM | Mean difference (90%CI) | ES (90%CI) | ES Interpretation | |
| (20-min half) | (30-min half) | |||||
| Match time | 64.1 ± 12.0 | 85.6 ± 4.0 | p<0.001 | 21.4 (18.6; 24.2) | 3.51 (3.05; 3.97) | Very Large |
| Actual match time | 31.0 ± 13.0 | 37.3 ± 13.3 | p=0.001 | 6.3 (2.2; 10.4) | 0.47 (0.17; 0.78) | Small |
| Total PL – Match time | 313.8 ± 110.3 | 418.3 ± 141.2 | p<0.001 | 104.5 (64.8; 144.3) | 0.83 (0.52; 1.15) | Moderate |
| Total PL – Actual match Time | 258.9 ± 109.1 | 335.0 ± 142.3 | p<0.001 | 76.1 (36.3; 115.8) | 0.61 (0.29; 0.930) | Moderate |
| PL. min–1 – Match time | 5.0 ± 1.4 | 5.0 ± 1.6 | p=0.874 | 0.0 (-0.4; 0.5) | 0.02 (-0.29; 0.33) | Trivial |
| PL. min–1 – Actual match time | 9.2 ± 2.1 | 9.3 ± 2.1 | p=0.532 | 0.1 (-0.5; 0.8) | 0.06 (-0.25; 0.37) | Trivial |
| Match load – S-RPE * Match time | 443.3 ± 176.0 | 630.1 ± 162.4 | p<0.001 | 185.8 (132.8; 238.9) | 1.09 (0.78; 1.40) | Moderate |
| Match load – S-RPE * Actual match time | 414.4 ± 191.0 | 490.3 ± 175.9 | p=0.003 | 75.9 (18.3; 133.5) | 0.41 (0.10; 0.72) | Small |
| %HRmax – Actual match time | 84.2 ± 6.7 | 84.8 ± 5.1 | p=0.535 | 0.5 (-1.3; 2.4) | 0.09 (-0.23; 0.41) | Trivial |
Abbreviations: WBHL, Women’s Baltic Handball League; LMRL, Lithuanian Women’s Handball League (Lietuvos Moteru Rankinio Lyga); LMM, linear mixed model, 90%CI, 90 percent confidence interval; ES, effect size; PL, player load; PL. min–1, player load per minute; S-RPE, session rating of perceived exertion; %HRmax, percentage of maximal heart rate. Note: Match time = the time from the beginning to the end of the match including all stoppages (i.e. time-outs and half time break and in-match stoppages); Actual match time = the time each player spent on court excluding all stoppage time.