The development of pacing behaviour of elite short-track speed skaters during adolescence: a longitudinal study

The goal-directed distribution of velocity (i.e. pacing behaviour) is a key component in performance optimisation and safeguarding athlete wellbeing. The current study analysed the development of pacing behaviour of skaters during adolescence, using a longitudinal design. Lap times were collected of 15-19 year old skaters performing during two or more 1500-m races during Junior World Championships between 2010 and 2018 (221 skaters, 907 observations). Races were divided into four sections (laps 1-3, laps 4-7, laps 8-11 and laps 12-14). Multilevel prediction models in which the races (level-1) are nested within the skaters (level-2) were used to analyse the effect of age on absolute section times (AST) and relative section times (RST; i.e. the percentage of total time spent in a section). Analyses were carried out in MLwiN (p<.05). Between the ages of 15 and 19, total race time decreased (-4.85s [0.89], p<0.01) and skaters reached lower AST in laps 8-11 (-2.03s [0.24], p<0.01) and 12-14 (-1.98s [0.25], p<0.01). Additionally, the RST’s of laps 1-3 (0.99% [0.25], p<0.01) and 4-7 (0.37% [0.18], p=0.04) increased and the RST’s of laps 8-11 (-0.53% [0.16], p<0.01) and 12-14 (-0.75% [0.18], p<0.01) decreased. These finding suggest that throughout adolescence, elite short-track skaters develop a more conservative pacing behaviour, reserving energy during the start of the race in order to achieve a higher velocity in the final section of the race and a decrease total race time. Coaches should take under consideration that the pacing behaviour of elite youth skaters develops during adolescences.