TIVAR - Kunststoffplatten als alternative Trainingsfläche für Eishockeyspieler?

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare a synthetic surface (Synthice) to a traditional artificial ice (Realice). The question to be answered was if objective and subjective differences respectively analogies between Synthice and Realice for ice hockey specific skating can be found. Another thing which had to be proven was if synthetic ice can represent an alternative surface to the real artificial ice. The validity and reliability have also been discussed. Methods: Thirty ice hockey players of different junior and adult teams completed each three tests on Synthice and on artificial ice. The subjects were split into two level groups: Moskito-Mini aged between 12 and 14 years (M = 13.20, SD ± 0.79) and Novizen-Tramelan aged from 15 to 29 years (M = 19.31, SD ± 5.42). The subjects have been tested on Synthice and on Realice by the 14 m-sprint test, the sprint-eight-test and the pace-test to get objective data. Results: The skating on Synthice is slower (14 m-sprint test 4.52 %, sprint-eight-test 6.26 %). The pace-test indicated that the subjects need much more energy than on Realice (pace-test 19.99 %). To compare the performance on Synthice and Realice we get the best correlation with the 14 m-sprint-test (r= 0.71). The sprint-eight-test (r = 0.62) and the pace-test (r = 0.20) showed a smaller correlation. Conclusions: Synthice makes ice hockey specific skating possible because it allows the players to do the same movements like they do on artificial ice. The sliding properties are smaller which makes the practice harder. Through this bigger effort by the body the surface has a certain potential for ice hockey specific conditional training. The 14 m-sprint -test fits the best for a prediction of a Realice-performance by a Synthice-test.