## 2 Materials and Methods
### Experimental Procedures  
During all competitive match-play situations, participants wore an individual GPS unit (10-Hz, STATSports Apex Unit, STATSports Group Limited, Newry, Northern Ireland, UK) to understand participants running performance across each rotation of play. The physiological performance was assessed through each participant wearing a HR monitor during match-play (Polar T-31, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland). Fifteen minutes prior to match-play each unit was switched on to allow the unit to establish a satellite connection. Each participant wore their own individual GPS unit within the confines of a west between the shoulder blades. Prior to match-play, players' individual rotations were pre-determined by a member of the management team. It was each individual player's responsibility to ensure they rotated with the correct players marked on the sheet at the correct time. There was also a member of staff allocated to monitor the bench during competition to make sure players stayed on top of their rotation times. Once a player had finished their rotation, they were asked to take their water bottle and walk straight to the end line and back to the bench where they were asked to sit until it was time for their next rotation. If for any reason a player was unable to rotate with another player, the sports scientist would take note of this on the rational timings sheet. Given the use of rolling substitutes, the time each participant spent in match-play was noted by the sports scientist with the use of a customised IOS app (Coaches Clock, Version 1.3.2, USA). Upon the completion of match-play, the data were downloaded using proprietary software (Apex SONRA, STATSports, Newry, Northern Ireland, UK), with all data for respective rotationscompleted analysed retrospectively and applied to each individual play. All data were than exported to a bespoke database (Microsoft Excel (V15); Microsoft, Redmond, USA). Each individual rotation was than retrospectivity cut using the pre-determined rotational timing sheet. The sports scientist was responsible to match up the rotational times with the movement graph on the proprietary software. If at any stage, the sports scientist was unable to determine where a rotation was made, they were encouraged to use the video footage from the match. All data were then exported to a bespoke database (Microsoft Excel(V15); Microsoft, Redmond, USA).  
Participants' speed thresholds were classified based on previous zones used in elite female field hockey literature ([PERSON], 1973). Variables of interest included time on feet (min), total distance (m), relative total distance (m\(\cdot\)min\({}^{-1}\)), high-speed distance (m \(\geq\) 16 km\(\cdot\)h\({}^{-1}\)), relative high-speed distance (m\(\cdot\)min\({}^{-1}\)), sprint distance (m \(\geq\) 20 km\(\cdot\)h\({}^{-1}\)), relative sprint distance (m\(\cdot\)min\({}^{-1}\)), no. of sprints (n; \(>\)20 km\(\cdot\)h\({}^{-1}\)), maximal speed (km\(\cdot\)h\({}^{-1}\)), percentage maximal speed (% Vmax), accelerations (n; \(\geq\)4 m\(\cdot\)s\({}^{-2}\)) and decelerations (n; \(\leq\)\(-\)4 m\(\cdot\)s\({}^{-2}\)). Physiological demands were also assessed during match-play with variables of interest including HRmax (bpm), HRmax (%), time \(\geq\) 80% HRmax (min: ss). Prior to the observational period, players completed the Yo-YolR1 to determine each participant's HRmax. The highest heart rate obtained by the participant during this test was deemed to be the player HRmax. However, if a participant obtained a higher HRmax throughout the course of testing, this figure would then be replaced and all data prior to this reading were then re-analysed (\(n=2\)). If at any stage an athlete's heart rate data did not record, that specific rotation was omitted for analysis.