Abstract

In team sports, the study of heart rate (HR) is fundamental for optimizing performance and preventing injuries since it allows us to learn about some of the physiological demands generated by doing sport and the level of internal load. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between HR and the scoreboard for the game as well as the number of actions performed in each of the strata generated depending on the difference in points on the scoreboard in amateur basketball players during a relegation playoff. To do this HR was analyzed, following the principles proposed by McInnes, Carlson, Jones and McKenna (1995), in a sample of ten players (n = 10) in the Catalan Cup during the 10 competitive matches during a relegation playoff. Next, HR was related to the scoreboard and the duration of play actions at each moment during the game. The results show HR values that range between 88.9% and 92.2% of HR max. In addition, significant differences were observed with respect to the points difference on the scoreboard (p < 0.05) in each of the 3 strata analyzed. As for the relationship with the play time variables, significant differences were observed only in long possessions (17-24 s) (p < 0.01). The conclusions of this study suggest that the difference in points on the scoreboard and play actions lasting 17-24 s have a direct impact on HR, which changes as a function of the points difference and influences the physiological demands on the players.