scholarly journals Training Practices of Academy Rugby League and their Alignment to Physical Qualities Deemed Important for Current and Future Performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam McCormack ◽  
Ben Jones ◽  
Kevin Till
Keyword(s):  
Training Session ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Maximum Speed ◽  
Reference Source ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Career Longevity ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
Athletic Development

This study aimed to investigate rugby league coaches’ perceptions of physical qualities for current and future performance, while also establishing the training practices of under-16 and under-19 players. Twenty-four practitioners (rugby coach, strength and conditioning coach) working within nine Super League clubs completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire required practitioners to rank eleven physical qualities (i.e. strength, power, acceleration, maximum speed, aerobic endurance, change of direction, agility, height, body mass, lean mass and fat mass) by importance for current performance, future performance and career longevity according to playing position (forwards, backs, hookers and halves). Practitioners were asked to provide detail on the frequency and duration of each type of training session completed during a typical week throughout each phase of the season; pre-season, in-season (early), in-season (mid) and in-season (late). Typically, practitioners ranked strength, power and acceleration qualities highest, and endurance and anthropometric qualities lowest. The importance of physical qualities varied according to each playing level and position. Training practices of under-16 and under-19 players differed during each phase of the season, with under-19 players undertaking greater training volumes than under-16s players. Overall, the physical qualities coaches perceived as most important were not reflected within their training practices. Rugby league practitioners can use this information as a reference source to design long term athletic development plans, prescribe training and during player development procedures. Moreover, these data can inform and improve training practices while influencing the design of pre-season preparatory phases and in-season periods.

scholarly journals The Effects of Plyometric Training on Change-of-Direction Ability: A Meta-Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Asadi ◽  
Hamid Arazi ◽  
Warren B. Young ◽  
Eduardo Sáez de Villarreal
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Plyometric Training ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Drop Jumps ◽  
The Impact

Purpose:To show a clear picture about the possible variables of enhancements of change-of-direction (COD) ability using longitudinal plyometric-training (PT) studies and determine specific factors that influence the training effects.Methods:A computerized search was performed, and 24 articles with a total of 46 effect sizes (ESs) in an experimental group and 25 ESs in a control group were reviewed to analyze the role of various factors on the impact of PT on COD performance.Results:The results showed that participants with good fitness levels obtained greater improvements in COD performance (P < .05), and basketball players gained more benefits of PT than other athletes. Also, men obtained COD results similar to those of women after PT. In relation to the variables of PT design, it appears that 7 wk (with 2 sessions/wk) using moderate intensity and 100 jumps per training session with a 72-h rest interval tends to improve COD ability. Performing PT with a combination of different types of plyometric exercises such as drop jumps + vertical jumps + standing long jumps is better than 1 form of exercise.Conclusion:It is apparent that PT can be effective at improving COD ability. The loading parameters are essential for exercise professionals, coaches, and strength and conditioning professionals with regard to the most appropriate dose-response trends to optimize plyometric-induced COD-ability gains.

scholarly journals Improving Mental Performance in an Athletic Population with the Use of Ārepa®, a Blackcurrant Based Nootropic Drink: A Randomized Control Trial

Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 316
Author(s):  
Natalie Gibson ◽  
Dane Baker ◽  
Alice Sharples ◽  
Andrea Braakhuis
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Pine Bark ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Dietary Polyphenols ◽  
Bioactive Ingredients ◽  
Post Trial ◽  
And Control

A range of dietary bioactive ingredients have claimed to improve mental clarity and reduce fatigue, including blackcurrant, pine bark, and l-theanine. These active ingredients provide a good source of dietary polyphenols which could be useful in reducing mental fatigue in a sports setting. The aim of the investigation was to test the effect of Ārepa® a blackcurrant-based nootropic-drink also containing pine-bark and l-theanine (BC+), on mental clarity in a sport setting. Twenty-three rugby league players completed a cross-over design, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Intervention and control phases lasted 7 days, with a washout in between. Cognition was assessed pre and post intervention following a standardized training session. Our study found the total score, accuracy, and average time per response scores improved significantly more after drinking the BC+ drink (p = 0.001, 0.003, and 0.043 respectively). The BC+ improved the perception that participants were reliable (p = 0.02) and less distracted (p = 0.03), while placebo supplementation increased participant perception they could control their nervousness (p = 0.03). Thematic analysis of post-trial questionnaire indicated participants found the BC+ sour, most reported no side effects, and opinion on which drink was more effective was not unanimous. The results indicate that the BC+ drink may be useful for athletes.

The Impact of 3 Different-Length Between-Matches Microcycles on Training Loads in Professional Rugby League Players

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 767-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Moreira ◽  
Tom Kempton ◽  
Marcelo Saldanha Aoki ◽  
Anita C. Sirotic ◽  
Aaron J. Coutts
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Training Load ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Endurance Athletes ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
High Intensity Zone ◽  
Competition Period ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: To examine the impact of varying between-matches microcycles on training characteristics (ie, intensity, duration, and load) in professional rugby league players and to report on match load related to these between-matches microcycles. Methods: Training-load data were collected during a 26-wk competition period of an entire season. Training load was measured using the session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) method for every training session and match from 44 professional rugby league players from the same National Rugby League team. Using the category-ratio 10 RPE scale, the training intensity was divided into 3 zones (low <4 AU, moderate ≥4-≤7 AU, and high >7 AU). Three different-length between-matches recovery microcycles were used for analysis: 5−6 d, 7−8 d, and 9−10 d. Results: A total of 3848 individual sessions were recorded. During the shorter-length between-matches microcycles (5−6 d), significantly lower training load was observed. No significant differences for subsequent match load or intensity were identified between the various match recovery periods. Overall, 16% of the training sessions were completed at the low-intensity zone, 61% at the moderate-intensity zone, and 23% at the high-intensity zone. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that rugby league players undertake higher training load as the length of between-matches microcycles is increased. The majority of in-season training of professional rugby league players was at moderate intensity, and a polarized approach to training that has been reported in elite endurance athletes does not occur in professional rugby league.

scholarly journals Interlimb asymmetry thresholds that negatively affect change of direction performance in collegiate American football players

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Philipp ◽  
Derek Crawford ◽  
Matthew Garver ◽  
Dustin Davis ◽  
Josie Hair
Keyword(s):  
Peak Power ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Average Power ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Change Of Direction

Purpose: Investigations into the effects of interlimb asymmetries on different aspects of sport performance have been of increased interest to researchers and strength and conditioning practitioners over the past couple of years. Interlimb asymmetries have been found to negatively impact performance in key performance indicators (KPI) such as jumping, sprinting, and changing directions, within various sports populations. However, there is no consensus with regard to a meaningful threshold at which asymmetries start to negatively impact KPIs or performance. The aim of this study was to investigate a potentially meaningful threshold for three asymmetry metrics (mean peak velocity (mPV), mean peak power (mPP), mean average power (mAP)) that were extracted from the Bulgarian split squat and found to be significantly related to change of direction performance (via L-drill test) within a sample of collegiate American football players. Methods: We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to identify asymmetry thresholds for all metrics that discriminate between faster and slower performers in the L-drill. Results: Asymmetry thresholds of greater than 10.65% (mAP), 14.59% (MPP), and 14.96% (mPV) were the thresholds identified by ROC curves as approximately 15% for both metrics, whereby players with asymmetries over this threshold were more likely to be classified as low performers. Conclusion: These findings may be helpful for practitioners interested in screening athletes for interlimb asymmetries that may negatively impact their change of direction performance.

scholarly journals The Effects of Sprint vs. Resisted Sled-Based Training; An 8-Week in-Season Randomized Control Intervention in Elite Rugby League Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9241
Author(s):  
Jonathan Sinclair ◽  
Christopher James Edmundson ◽  
John Metcalfe ◽  
Lindsay Bottoms ◽  
Stephen Atkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Group ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Test Time ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Sprint Training ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Control Intervention ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
Time Point

The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of resisted sled-based training compared to traditional unresisted sprint training in terms of mediating improvements in speed, agility, and power during an eight-week period of in-season training in elite rugby league players. Participants were randomly separated into either resisted sled or traditional sprint-based training groups and they completed an eight-week in-season training block with training prescribed based on the group to which they were assigned. Measures of 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m sprint times in addition to countermovement jump height and 505-agility test time were measured at baseline, four-weeks and eight-weeks. For sprint-based outcomes, although both groups improved significantly, there were no statistical differences between the two training methods. However, at the eight-week time point there were significant improvements in 505-agility test (sprint group: baseline = 2.45 and eight-weeks = 2.42 s/sled group: baseline = 2.43 and eight-weeks = 2.37 s) and countermovement jump (sprint group: baseline = 39.18 and eight-weeks = 39.49 cm/sled group: baseline = 40.43 and eight-weeks = 43.07 cm) performance in the sled training group. Therefore, the findings from this investigation may be important to strength and conditioning coaches working in an elite rugby league in that resisted sled training may represent a more effective method of sprint training prescription.

scholarly journals Associations between Absolute and Relative Lower Body Strength to Measures of Power and Change of Direction Speed in Division II Female Volleyball Players

Sports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney Tramel ◽  
Robert G. Lockie ◽  
Keston G. Lindsay ◽  
J. Jay Dawes
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
T Test ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Jump Test ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Volleyball Players ◽  
Lower Body Strength

Volleyball is a sport comprised of multiple explosive efforts and multidirectional change of direction speed (CODS) actions. Since strength underpins both of these abilities, it is important to explore the relationship between these variables in order to develop strength and conditioning programs to optimize performance. The purpose of this study is to determine if a relationship exists between absolute and relative strength and measures of power and CODS in collegiate volleyball players. Archived testing data from ten (n = 10, age: 19.1 ± 1.2 yrs, Ht: 173.1 ± 6.64 cm, Wt: 67 ± 7.04 kg) female DII collegiate volleyball players were analyzed. These data included: block vertical jump (Block VJ), approach vertical jump (Approach VJ), a repeat jump test (i.e., four consecutive VJs), modified T-test, 5-0-5 agility test, a single leg triple hop test, and a 1-3RM deadlift. Significant large correlations were observed between relative strength and the repeat jump test, modified T-test, and 5-0-5 agility test. Significant correlations were also observed between absolute strength and the modified T-test. These results indicate that strength and conditioning professionals should emphasize the development of both absolute and relative lower-body strength to improve measures of power and agility in collegiate volleyball players.

scholarly journals An Alternative Test of Tackling Ability in Rugby League Players

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J.A. Speranza ◽  
Tim J. Gabbett ◽  
David A. Greene ◽  
Rich D. Johnston ◽  
Andrew D. Townshend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Ability Tests ◽  
Lower Body Strength ◽  
Push Up

This study investigated the relationship between 2 tests of tackling ability, muscle strength, and power in semiprofessional rugby league players. Thirty-one players, 19 first-grade and 12 second-grade, underwent tests of muscle strength (1-repetition-maximum bench press, chin-up, and squat) and power (plyometric push-up and countermovement jump). Tackling ability was assessed via video analysis of under-and over-the-ball tackle drills. The first-grade players had significantly greater scores in both the under-the-ball (P = .03, effect size [ES] = 0.84, 95% CI 0.07–1.50) and over-the-ball tackling-ability tests (P < .001, ES =1.86, 95% CI 0.83–2.52) than the second-grade players. A large, significant relationship was found between under- and over-the-ball tackling ability (r = .55, 95% CI .24–.76, P = .001). Lower-body strength (r = .37, 95% CI .02–.64, P = .04) was moderately associated with under-the-ball tackling ability, whereas over-the-ball tackling ability was moderately associated with plyometric push-up performance (r = .39, 95% CI .04–.65, P = .03). This study found that over-the-ball tackling ability was significantly associated with under-the-ball tackling in semiprofessional rugby league players. Furthermore, it was found that, compared with the second-grade players, the first-grade players had superior tackle ability in both tackle drills. In this study it was observed that plyometric push-up peak power was significantly related to over-the-ball tackling ability and absolute lower-body strength was associated with under-the-ball tackling ability. These findings provide skill coaches and strength and conditioning staff a greater understanding of elements that contribute to effective tackling ability.

The Back Squat and the Power Clean: Elicitation of Different Degrees of Potentiation

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent B. Seitz ◽  
Gabriel S. Trajano ◽  
G. Gregory Haff
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Sprint Performance ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Sprint Time ◽  
Back Squat ◽  
Potentiation Effect ◽  
Average Acceleration ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
Power Clean

Purpose:To compare the acute effects of back squats and power cleans on sprint performance.Methods:Thirteen elite junior rugby league players performed 20-m linear sprints before and 7 min after 2 different conditioning activities or 1 control condition. The conditioning activities included 1 set of 3 back squats or power cleans at 90% 1-repetition maximum. A 2 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare preconditioning and postconditioning changes in sprint performance.Results:Both the back-squat and power-clean conditioning activities demonstrated a potentiation effect as indicated by improved sprint time (back squat: P = .001, ES = –0.66; power cleans: P = .001, ES = –0.92), velocity (back squat: P = .001, ES = 0.63; power cleans: P = .001, ES = 0.84), and average acceleration over 20 m (back squat: P = .001, ES = 0.70; power cleans: P = .001, ES = 1.00). No potentiation effect was observed after the control condition. Overall, the power clean induced a greater improvement in sprint time (P = .042, ES = 0.83), velocity (P = .047, ES = 1.17), and average acceleration (P = .05, ES = 0.87) than the back squat.Conclusions:Back-squat and power-clean conditioning activities both induced improvements in sprint performance when included as part of a potentiation protocol. However, the magnitude of improvement was greater after the power cleans. From a practical perspective, strength and conditioning coaches should consider using power cleans rather than back squats to maximize the performance effects of potentiation complexes targeting the development of sprint performance.

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