FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University Patriot Performance Lab and Strength and Conditioning coach Corey Dulak-Sigler, the primary coach for women's lacrosse, had the opportunity to conduct a first-of-its-kind study on workload demands of NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse using the Catapult Load Monitoring system.
 
The study, titled "Analysis of Accumulated Workloads and Performance Testing Across a Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Season", was published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and focused on the full 16-week season for the George Mason women's lacrosse program. Along with Dulak-Sigler, Margaret T. Jones, Andrew R. Jagim, Nicholas M. Kuhlman and Jennifer B. Fields authored the piece.
 
Since the 2021 spring season, the George Mason lacrosse team is one of just a few programs in the Atlantic 10 women's lacrosse conference to use the Catapult Load Monitoring technology. This technology tracks several important performance metrics such as individual athletes' workload, change of direction, high speed distance, total distance, and heart rate, which in turn provides objective data prevalent for training progression as well as recovery.  
 
OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study was to look at accumulated external workload demands of an NCAA DI Women's Lacrosse team across a season, and to assess seasonal changes necessary for key performance measures. Unique to this study, Dulak-Sigler, Jones, Jagim, Kuhlman and Fields assessed the strength, power, speed, agility, aerobic capacity, and body composition for the entire roster from preseason training to the end of the competitive season. Additionally, this is the first study to date that focused solely on the training demands, as well as in season physical demands of Division I Women's Collegiate Lacrosse. 
 
PREVALENT STUDY FINDINGS 

1. Over the 16-week study athletes covered approximately 200km of total distance, roughly 124 miles
2. Athletes totaled approximately 1,200 repeated high intensity efforts and 1,150 high accelerations
3. The most profound finding was that the entire George Mason lacrosse roster was able to maintain and or improve key performance measures from preseason training through end of the competitive season

 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"Catapult has enhanced my game preparation and recovery since my sophomore season," said senior midfielder Melanie Hutchinson. "Being able to see my workload in practices and games has allowed me to improve different aspects in my game, such as speed and agility, while also giving me the scientific data on what and how my body has handled adversities during these events. Overall, Catapult has provided and unparalleled inside look into my performance as an athlete and has without a doubt served as a significant tool for my teammates and I!"
 
"The Catapult System has provided my teammates and I a platform for us to improve in many areas of our playing style, as well as recovery," said sophomore defender Gabby Rizzio. "Catapult allows us to see specific things such as top speed, sprint distances and intensity percentages in practices and games. Having this objective data helps us gain a better understanding of the factors that play a key role in our performance, as well gain an edge over our competitors. Lastly, Catapult also helps us monitor our individual and team daily loads so we can continue to stay healthy and primed for competition".
 
"It is without a doubt that Catapult has and will continue to serve as a necessary tool in the current as well as future success of our program", said Head Coach Kara Mupo. "Having the ability to take objective scientific data from our training sessions, as well as competitions, allows my staff and I to structure and or restructure our practice and conditioning sessions to ensure we are meeting the benchmarks necessary to compete at the highest level. Additionally, Catapult has played a significant role in the injury reduction rates within our program, helping us achieve a 3-year all-time low in program history".