In addition to the high level of skill required to play field hockey, to be successful you need, among other things, good aerobic fitness, speed and agility! However, which of these are more important? Below is a discussion about the fitness requirements for field hockey, which can help with developing training programs for this sport, and for interpreting fitness testing results and determining the relative strengths and weaknesses of a player.
You Need to have great aerobic fitness
We have a poll about the component of fitness most important for success in field hockey. Out of the options of Body Size and Composition, Muscle Strength, Muscular Endurance, Power, Speed / Quickness, Agility, Flexibility, Balance and Coordination, and Cardiovascular Endurance, the factors which are considered most important by the readers of this site are cardiovascular endurance, speed and agility. You can add your vote too, and see the latest results.
You Need to be Quick All Day
Our first analysis of fitness components for hockey, a 1 to 5 rating list of selected components of fitness, found that speed was rated the most important, followed by anaerobic fitness (see results). The ability to run fast, and keep doing it all game, is very important. We extended this poll with a larger number of components, the results are below.
You Need to be Quick and Agile
In a similar poll, we have asked people to rate the 12 factors of success for sports. Visitors to this site have rated each of these factors for the sport of field hockey, and the most important according to them are: speed, skill, agility and aerobic fitness. You can also add your ratings of Which Factors Make Successful field hockey Players, and see the latest results.
Most Important Factors for Success in Order of Importance (data from 2018)
4.3 Speed / Quickness
4.3 Skill and Technique
4.0 Agility
4.0 Aerobic Endurance
3.9 Analytic & Tactical Ability
3.9 Motivation & Self Confidence
3.9 Coping with Pressure Situations
3.8 Balance & Coordination
3.8 Strength & Power
3.8 Reaction Time
3.2 Flexibility
2.9 Body Size and Composition
Related Pages
- Field Hockey fitness testing
- Hockey Physiology
- More about anthropometry for hockey
- Field Hockey Polls
- Hockey Warm-ups