Situational and Game Variables in Rink Hockey: A Systematic Review

The main objective of this paper was to review the available literature on situational and game variables in the sport of rink hockey. The most common research topics were identified, their methodologies described and the evolving trends in this area of research systematised. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. The following keywords were used: rink hockey and ice hockey, each combined with the terms "situational variables", "match variables" and "game variables". The databases used for the review were Pubmed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were: (1) relevant data on match variables in the sport of rink hockey; (2) data referring to professional competitions and/or senior/superior categories and (3) written in English or Spanish. After the review process, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Situational variables such as the location of the match, the scoreboard status, spectators’ presence or the level of the teams, as well as the influence of set pieces and the role of the goalkeeper, have been included as research objects, as they seem to be effective variables of performance in rink hockey. In view of the limitations of the studies reviewed, future research should provide predictive models and integrate situational and interactive contexts into the analysis of rink hockey performance. It should also provide more scientific knowledge on the sport, using new technologies and new approaches to study tactical elements in a sequential way.