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Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Thesis PhD (Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1869484155482406912 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Rodgers, Aneesha |
| author2 | Venter, Ranel |
| author_browse | Rodgers, Aneesha Venter, Ranel |
| author_facet | Venter, Ranel Rodgers, Aneesha |
| author_sort | Rodgers, Aneesha |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis PhD (Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135892 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:10:24.007Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135892 Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Rodgers, Aneesha Venter, Ranel Kraak, Wilbur Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine. Netball -- Training Netball -- Physiological aspects Athletes -- Measurement Sports sciences -- Mathematical models Global Positioning System UCTD Thesis PhD (Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Rodgers, A. 2026. Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/213ae036-8c93-400e-9195-13d6b39a8fbe ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Netball is an intermittent team sport, which pertains to the frequent fluctuations in intensity with inevitable periods of high-intensity activity interlaced with brief periods of inactivity. Considering the inability of the players to travel with the ball and the movement restrictions imposed per playing position, it is imperative that players demonstrate a unique combination of performance capabilities, including the ability to effectively accelerate and decelerate during a match. Notably, in quantifying acceleration and deceleration demands within netball, there is a distinct need for a netball-specific velocity zones as conventional speed zones do not provide a representative model on the velocities achieved by netball players and lack the consideration of individual sprinting capacities and differences in the maximal acceleration capabilities of the players based on their position. The first aim of the study was to develop and compare a self-designed, custom Global Positioning System (GPS)-based mathematical model for netball-specific velocity zones to the speed zones generated by the default GPS settings. Furthermore, the study aimed to determine and compare the proportion of time spent within each zone between the model-based velocity zones and the GPS-derived speed zones, the total number of accelerations performed per velocity zone and per match phase by the seven playing positions and the two positional groups. To determine the position-specific velocity zones and acceleration metrics, GPS data of 34 university level netball players (21,44 ± 2,29 years) was collected over a seven-day University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament. The raw GPS data was independently processed through the mathematical model within Python and utilised to determine specific acceleration and deceleration metrics, in particular, the development of netball-specific velocity zone for each of the playing positions in netball. The results of the mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) post-hoc analysis revealed significant differences in playing positions, match phase, and zones between the model-based velocity zones and GPS-derived speed zones (p = < 0,01), in addition to differences in the number of accelerations per velocity zone across playing positions and the positional groups (p = < 0,01). Notably, no statistical disparities were reported in the accelerations performed between the first and second halves on a position- and group-specific level (p = 0,07 - 0,39), although variations were found in the accelerations performed within different zones between the first and second half (p = < 0,01). Moreover, there was a significant moderate to very high, positive correlation for the total proportion of time spent within the zone between the model-based velocity zones and the GPS-derived Zones 2, 4, and 5, and a moderate to high, negatively correlated relationship for Zones 1 and 3. In summary, the mathematical model was able to create position-specific zones to assess acceleration-based metrics. These zones revealed differences between playing positions and match phases. The comparison of GPS-derived and model-based zones showed a significant positive relationship, suggesting their interchangeability for analysing time spent in zones and accelerations, contingent on the analysis objectives. The proportion of time spent in each zone demonstrated a significant positive relationship in Zones 2, 4, and 5 and a negative relationship in Zones 1 and 3 between the model-based and GPS-derived zones. The C consistently spent the most time in Zones 2, 4, and 5, while the GK, GS, and GA spent the least proportion of time in these zones within the model-based and GA in the GPS-derived zones. Regarding the number of accelerations, the C and GD had the most in Zones 2, 4, and 5, but the fewest in Zone 3. In contrast, the GA and GS had consistently fewer accelerations in all zones except for Zone 3, where they had the most. The GK had the second-highest number of accelerations in Zones 1, 3, and 4, but fewer in Zones 3 and 5, compared to the C. No significant differences were found in the number of accelerations between the first and second halves for playing positions and positional groups. However, significant disparities in accelerations within each zone were observed between match phases. In the second half, all positions had more accelerations in each zone, except for the C in Zone 3, which reported more in the first half. Similar trends were noted in the positional groups, aligning with one of the positional pairings. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Netbal is ʼn onderbroke spansport in die sin dat dit frekwente wisseling in intensiteit, met onvermydelike periodes van hoë-intensiteit-aktiwiteit gevolg deur kort periodes van onaktiwiteit, behels. As die feit dat die spelers nie met die bal mag beweeg nie en die bewegingsbeperkings wat per spelposisie opgelê word, in ag geneem word, is dit noodsaaklik dat spelers oor ʼn unieke kombinasie van vermoëns moet beskik, waaronder die vermoë om gedurende ʼn wedstryd doeltreffend te kan versnel en stop. Wanneer die versnellings- en verstadigingseise van netbal gekwantifiseer word, blyk dit duidelik dat daar ʼn behoefte aan netbalspesifieke snelheidsones bestaan, aangesien konvensionele spoedsones nie ʼn verteenwoordigende model bied van die snelhede wat deur netbalspelers behaal word nie. Die konvensionele spoedsones neem nie individuele naelloopvermoëns en verskille in die maksimale versnellings- en verstadigingsvermoëns van die spelers op grond van hulle posisie in ag nie. Die studie was eerstens daarop gemik om ʼn selfontwerpte, pasgemaakte globale posisioneringstelsel (GPS)-gebaseerde wiskundige model vir netbalspesifieke snelheidsones te ontwikkel en dit met die spoedsones wat deur die GPS se verstekstellings gegenereer word, te vergelyk. Voorts wou die studie vasstel watter proporsie tyd binne elke sone in die modelgebaseerde snelheidsones en die GPS-ontleende spoedsones, onderskeidelik, deurgebring word, en ook die somtotaal vasstel van die versnellings wat per snelheidsone en per wedstrydfase deur die sewe spelposisies en die twee posisionele groepe uitgevoer word, en dit onderling vergelyk. Om die posisiespesifieke snelheidsones en versnellingsmetrieke vas te stel, is die GPS-data van 34 netbalspelers op universiteitsvlak (21,44 ± 2,29 jaar) oor sewe dae by die toernooi van Universiteitsport Suid-Afrika (USSA) ingesamel. Die onverwerkte GPS-data is onafhanklik deur die wiskundige model in Python verwerk en aangewend om spesifieke versnellingsmetrieke, in die besonder die ontwikkeling van netbalspesifieke snelheidsones vir elk van die spelposisies in netbal, te bepaal. Die resultate van die gemengde-modelontleding van variansie (ANOVA) en Fisher se mins beduidende verskil (LSD) post hoc-ontleding het beduidende verskille ten opsigte van spelposisies, wedstrydfase en sones tussen die modelgebaseerde snelheidsones en die GPS-ontleende spoedsones onthul (p = < 0,01). Daar was ook verskille in die getal versnellings per snelheidsone oor spelposisies heen en tussen die posisionele groepe (p = < 0,01). Statistiese verskille is op posisie- en groepspesifieke vlak (p = 0,07 - 0,39) aangemeld in die versnellings wat in die eerste en die tweede helfte uitgevoer is nie, hoewel variasies wel gevind is in die versnellings wat binne verskillende sones in die eerste en die tweede helfte (p = < 0,01) uitgevoer is. Daar was boonop ʼn beduidende matige tot baie hoë korrelasie vir die totale proporsie tyd wat in die sone deurgebring is tussen die modelgebaseerde snelheidsones en GPS-ontleende sone 2, 4 en 5 en matige tot hoë negatiewe korrelasie vir sone 1 en 3. Samevattend was die wiskundige model dus suksesvol met die skep van posisiespesifieke sones om versnellingsgebaseerde metrieke te assesseer. Hierdie sones het verskille tussen spelposisies en wedstrydfases blootgelê. Die vergelyking van GPS-ontleende en modelgebaseerde sones het ʼn beduidende positiewe verband getoon, wat dui op die verwisselbaarheid daarvan vir die ontleding van tyd wat in sones deurgebring word en versnellings, behoudens die ontledingsdoelwitte. Die proporsie tyd wat in elkeen sone deurgebring word, toon ʼn beduidende positiewe verband in sone 2, 4 en 5 en ʼn negatiewe verband in sone 1 en 3 tussen die modelgebaseerde en die GPS-ontleende sones. In die modelgebaseerde en die GPS-ontleende sones het die senter (S) konsekwent die meeste tyd in sone 2, 4 en 5 deurgebring, terwyl die verdediger (V), doel (D) en hulpdoel (HD) die kleinste proporsie tyd in hierdie sone deurgebring het. Ten opsigte van versnellings, het die V en hulpdoelverdediger (HV) die meeste in sone 2, 4 en 5 uitgevoer, maar die minste in sone 3. In teenstelling daarmee, het die HD en die D konsekwent minder versnellings in al die sones uitgevoer, buiten vir sone 3, waar hulle die meeste uitgevoer het. Die V het die tweede meeste versnellings in sone 1, 3 en 4 uitgevoer, maar minder in sone 3 en 5, vergeleke met die S. Daar was geen beduidende verskille in die getal versnellings tussen die eerste en tweede helftes vir spelposisies en posisionele groepe nie. Beduidende verskille in versnellings binne elke sone is egter tussen wedstrydfases waargeneem. In die tweede helfte het alle posisies meer versnellings in elke sone getoon, buiten vir die S in sone 3, wat meer in die eerste helfte gerapporteer het. Soortgelyke tendense is in die posisionele groepe opgemerk, wat strook met een van die posisionele afparings. Doctoral 2026-04-14T10:19:35Z 2026-04-14T10:19:35Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135892 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 219 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Netball -- Training Netball -- Physiological aspects Athletes -- Measurement Sports sciences -- Mathematical models Global Positioning System UCTD Rodgers, Aneesha Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) |
| title | Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) |
| title_full | Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) |
| title_fullStr | Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) |
| title_short | Developing netball-specific speed zones for quantifying on-court locomotor demands: Implementation of a mathematical model using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) |
| title_sort | developing netball specific speed zones for quantifying on court locomotor demands implementation of a mathematical model using global positioning systems gps |
| topic | Netball -- Training Netball -- Physiological aspects Athletes -- Measurement Sports sciences -- Mathematical models Global Positioning System UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135892 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rodgersaneesha developingnetballspecificspeedzonesforquantifyingoncourtlocomotordemandsimplementationofamathematicalmodelusingglobalpositioningsystemsgps |