The aim of this study was to assess the differences in movement intensity demands between training activities and competition match-play in elite netball. Twelve elite female netballers (mean ± SD, age = 25.9 ± 5.1 years; height = 178.6 ± 8.9 cm, body mass = 71.1 ± 7.1 kg) competing in Australia’s premier domestic netball competition participated. Data were collected across the season from all pre-season training sessions ( n = 29), pre-season practice matches ( n = 8), in-season training sessions ( n = 21), in-season practice matches ( n = 5), and competition matches ( n = 15). Linear mixed-effects models assessed differences in PlayerLoad? per minute and metreage per minute between activity types (Specialist, Skill Drills, Set-piece, Match Scenarios, Practice Match-play, and Competition Match-play) for positional groupings (Defenders, Midcourters, and Goalers). Competition Match-play resulted in higher (p 0.05) PlayerLoad? than all training activity types, with the largest magnitudes of difference between Specialist–Competition ( d = 0.44–0.59; small to medium) and Skill Drills–Competition ( d = 0.35–0.63; small to medium) for all positional groups. The smallest difference was found between Match Scenarios–Competition ( d = 0.12–0.20; trivial to small) and Practice Match-play–Competition ( d = 0.12–0.14; trivial). Competition Match-play also resulted in higher (p 0.05) metreage per minute than Specialist ( d = 0.23–0.53; small to medium), Skill Drills ( d = 0.19–0.61; trivial to medium) and Set-piece ( d = 0.05–0.31; trivial to small). Training activity demands in order of least to most similar to competition were specialist, skill drills, set-piece, match scenarios, and practice match-play. We provide data that enables coaches and physical preparation staff to incorporate progressions into their training session designs that can replicate the movement intensity demands of competition in training.
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