PARA TABLE TENNIS TEMPORAL GAME STRUCTURE FOR ATHLETES WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the temporal game structure – rally duration – RD, rest time – RT, number of shots per rally – NS, rate of shots per second – RS, work-to-rest ratio – W:R, and total match duration – TMD – in table tennis matches from players with intellectual disability – ID (Class 11 from Para Table Tennis), analyzing differences between sexes, and comparing with players without disabilities and other disabilities. Fourteen matches (7 per sex) from the 2018 World Championship were analyzed. T-test (parametric) and the Mann-Whitney (non-parametric) were used to compare sexes (p < 0,05). Matches from ID players had RD, RT, NS, RS, W:R and TMD of 3.68 s, 12.68 s, 4.00, 1.14shots/s, 0.30 and 26.80 min for men's and 3.56 s, 9.12 s, 4.00, 1.07shots/s, 0.40 and 20.50 min for women's, with 80% from points lasting until 5.49s and 6.00 shots, with 87.2% from rest times lasting until 17.99 s. Differences in RD, RT, NS, RS, and W:R compared with players without disabilities indicate tactical limitation and higher effort density in ID players. Minor RD compared with wheelchair players shows that the sport may have differences in temporal game structure for men’s. NS, RT, and RS were higher for men’s, indicating that the temporal game structure differs between sexes at Class 11. Data from the present study are pioneers and provide the basis for appropriate training prescriptions for ID players.

Received: 2024/02/16

Reformulated: 2024/04/11

Accepted: 2024/04/15