scholarly journals Understanding key constraints and practice design in Rugby Union place kicking: Experiential knowledge of professional kickers and experienced coaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 631-641
Author(s):  
Chris Pocock ◽  
Neil E Bezodis ◽  
Keith Davids ◽  
Ross Wadey ◽  
Jamie S North
Keyword(s):  
Sport Performance ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Experiential Knowledge ◽  
Environmental Constraints ◽  
Competitive Performance ◽  
Task Constraints ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Simulated Game ◽  
Kicking Performance

Place kicks present valuable opportunities to score points in Rugby Union, which are typically performed under varying constraints in competitive performance environments. Previous quantitative studies suggest these interacting constraints can influence fluctuations in place kick success. To further the understanding of how fluctuations in place kicking success emerge, our aim was twofold: i) to explore and identify the key constraints that professional place kickers and experienced place kicking coaches perceive to influence the difficulty of a place kick and ii) to understand the level to which current place kicking practice environments represent these key constraints experienced in performance environments. Six professional place kickers and six experienced place kicking coaches were interviewed. Using a deductive thematic analysis, 11 key constraints were identified: individual constraints of expectation for success and fatigue, task constraints of angle and distance to goalposts, environmental constraints of wind, weather, pitch, and crowd, and situational constraints of previous kicking performance, time remaining and current score margin. Place kicking is typically practised individually or with a small number of place kickers in isolation from team sessions. Where possible, coaches should be encouraged to include place kicking in simulated game scenarios during practice to represent key constraints from performance environments. Our study demonstrates how experiential knowledge can enrich the understanding of sport performance and inform the design of practice environments which simulate relevant constraints of competitive performance to enhance skill adaptation of athletes.

Environmental and task constraints influence footfall variability in track and field jumping events

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-558
Author(s):  
Hubert Makaruk ◽  
Jared Marak Porter ◽  
Marcin Starzak
Keyword(s):  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Pattern ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Environmental Constraints ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Task Constraints ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Pointing Control ◽  
Pole Vault ◽  
And Task

By analysis of footfall variability in the long jump, triple jump, and pole vault, the present study was designed to highlight gait variability patterns required in varied nested tasks. Twelve male athletes in each event who participated in one international and two national competitions were involved in this study. Twenty five pairs of 1-m Optojump Next system bars were used to evaluate relevant footfall placement. The footfall variability was taken to present the pattern of step regulation and onset of visual regulation. The main results of this study showed that pole vaulters manifested a highly consistent gait pattern, which was different than the pattern which appeared in the horizontal jumps. The results also revealed that the onset of step length adjustments in the horizontal jumps occurred significantly later during the zeroing-in phase of the approach run in comparison to those utilized by the pole vaulters. These findings indicate that locomotor pointing control in the long jump, triple jump, and pole vault produce specific footfall variability patterns due to different task and environmental constraints that need to be taken into account during training and competition settings.

scholarly journals A simulated rugby match protocol induces physiological fatigue without decreased individual scrummaging performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Green ◽  
S Kerr ◽  
B Olivier ◽  
R Meiring ◽  
C Dafkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Creatine Kinase Activity ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Subjective Ratings ◽  
Borg Scale ◽  
Simulated Game ◽  
Physiological Markers

Background: A rugby union game consists of 80 minutes of strenuous exertion. Forwards are required to participate in the arduous activity of scrummaging throughout a game.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify whether rugby-match simulated fatigue modified individual scrummaging technique and reduced performance.Methods: Twelve forwards (body mass 106.2±13.3 kg; stature 179.5±8.4 cm) had individual scrum kinetics and kinematics assessed prior to and following a protocol that simulated a rugby match. The simulated rugby match protocol required participants to run at various velocities and perform rugby specific tasks. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was assessed using a 6-20 Borg scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Blood lactate, heart rate and RPE were measured prior to, at mid-point and after the simulated game, while markers of muscle damage (blood creatine kinase activity (CK) and urea) were measured prior to and following the protocol.Results: RPE (p<0.0001) and VAS (p<0.0001) showed significant increases between the pre- and post-simulation values. Of the physiological markers, heart rate (p<0.0001) and blood urea concentration (p=0.004) increased following the match simulation. No significant differences were observed for blood CK (p=0.281), individual scrummaging forces (p=0.433) or in the kinematic variables following the protocol. While physiological fatigue and subjective ratings of physiological fatigue may develop during a rugby simulation, no differences were observed in peak forces or in body kinematics at peak force.Conclusion: Physiological fatigue does not influence individual scrummaging performance and technique.

scholarly journals Hot hands, cold feet? Investigating effects of interacting constraints on place kicking performance at the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1309-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Pocock ◽  
Neil E. Bezodis ◽  
Keith Davids ◽  
Jamie S. North
Keyword(s):  
Rugby Union ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Kicking Performance

The Acute Effect of Mental Fatigue on Badminton Performance in Elite Players

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-638
Author(s):  
Mathias H. Kosack ◽  
Walter Staiano ◽  
Rasmus Folino ◽  
Mads B. Hansen ◽  
Simon Lønbro
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Acute Effect ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Mental Fatigue ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Specific Test ◽  
Performance Time

Purpose: Several studies have examined the effect of MF on sport performance, but no studies have been conducted on badminton performance. The purpose of the present study was to examine the acute effect of mental fatigue (MF) on badminton performance in elite players. Methods: In total, 19 elite Danish badminton players completed 2 test days in randomized order, separated by 48 h. On day 1, to elicit MF, a 60-min incongruent Stroop task was performed. On day 2, 60 min of an emotionally neutral documentary was used for the control condition. After either condition, subjects performed a badminton-specific test (BST) where performance time was measured, as well as countermovement-jump height, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and lactate. Psychological questionnaires were answered under both conditions. Results: Subjects were significantly more mentally fatigued (P = .002) after the Stroop intervention than in the control. No differences between conditions were detected in the BST (control 32.43 [1.96] vs MF 32.43 [2.36] s; P = .99, Student t test). In addition, no effect of condition (P = .64), time (P = .14), or condition × time (P = .87) was found (2-way analysis of variance). Furthermore, no differences in heart rate, countermovement jump, or rating of perceived exertion were observed between conditions. Lactate showed no effect of condition (P = .46). Conclusion: Despite being more mentally fatigued after the Stroop test than in the control condition, performance was not negatively affected during a BST. In addition, no differences in physiological measures were observed.

Developmental biodynamics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Functional Ability ◽  
Movement Pattern ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Environmental Constraints ◽  
Task Constraints ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
System Components ◽  
Abnormal Individual ◽  
The Individual

From a dynamical systems perspective, coordination of human movement emerges from the intrinsic self-organizing properties of the dynamical system consisting of the individual, the task, and the environment. The movement pattern that emerges depends upon the state of the system components which impose constraints on the types of movement that may emerge. These constraints arise from the anthropometry and functional ability of the individual (individual constraints), the requirements of the task (task constraints), and the prevailing environmental conditions (environmental constraints). Abnormal movement due to cerebral palsy, disease, or injury is likely to be due to abnormal individual constraints in the form of abnormal energy resources. Therapy directed at normalizing the abnormal energy resources is likely to be more effective than therapy directed at normalizing the abnormal kinematics.

Competitive Performance Correlates of Mental Toughness in Tennis

2016 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Cowden
Keyword(s):  
Sport Performance ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Competitive Performance ◽  
Performance Indices ◽  
Successful Performance ◽  
Critical Moment ◽  
Tennis Match

This study investigated relationships between mental toughness and measures of competitive performance in tennis. Forty-three male ( N = 25) and female ( N = 18) players ( M age = 13.6 years, SD = 2.4) completed the mental toughness inventory, and the point-by-point outcomes recorded during a competitive tennis match (singles) were used to generate performance indices for each athlete. The results indicated that mental toughness was associated with several, but not all, macro, micro, and critical moment performance indices. The findings suggest mental toughness may contribute to successful performance during tennis competition, although the importance of the construct appears to depend on specific match situations. Future mental toughness research should consider a range of factors related to sport performance, including athletes’ and opponents’ physical, technical, and tactical abilities.

scholarly journals Manipulating task constraints shapes emergence of herding tendencies in team games performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence Yi Hao Tan ◽  
Jia Yi Chow ◽  
Ricardo Duarte ◽  
Keith Davids
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Direction ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Task Constraints ◽  
Team Games ◽  
Verbal Instructions ◽  
Cluster Phase ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positional Data ◽  
And Task

The herding phenomenon is observed in nature and has been perceived to be less desirable use of space in impacting overall team play performance. The effective manipulating of rules and task constraints might be able to alter herding tendencies in sport performance. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of altering task constraints on herding tendencies, measured with the use of cluster phase analysis, which has also been used to analyse the synchrony exhibited by performers in invasion games such as professional association football matches. In this study, tracking positional data of individual players in a simulated pass and catch game was undertaken, with no specific verbal instructions provided to participants on how and where to move so that emergent behavioural tendencies could be observed. Data revealed how task constraint manipulations impacted on herding tendencies. Manipulation of task constraints revealed higher levels of clustering tendencies in the herding condition compared to the non-herding condition. Within the herding condition, between-team synchrony was also strong, especially in the longitudinal direction. Ball possession also seemed to have some impact on within-team synchrony. Findings provided preliminary evidence on how manipulating task constraints can be effective in altering herding tendencies in team games.

scholarly journals Validity of a Squash-Specific Test of Change-of-Direction Speed

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wilkinson ◽  
Damon Leedale-Brown ◽  
Edward M. Winter
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Specific Test ◽  
Talent Identification ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Association Football ◽  
Speed Test ◽  
Reliable Tool ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Performance Times

Purpose:We examined the validity and reproducibility of a squash-specifc test designed to assess change-of-direction speed.Methods:10 male squash and 10 male association-football and rugby-union players completed the Illinois agility run (IAR) and a squash change-of-direction-speed test (SCODS) on separate days. Tests were repeated after 24 h to assess reproducibility. The best time from three attempts was recorded in each trial.Results:Performance times on the IAR (TE 0.27 s, 1.8%, 90% CI 0.21 to 0.37 s; LOA -0.12 s ± 0.74; LPR slope 1, intercept -2.8) and SCODS (TE 0.18 s, 1.5%, 90% CI 0.14 to 0.24 s; LOA 0.05 s ± 0.49; LPR slope 0.95, intercept 0.5) were reproducible. There were no statistically significant differences in performance time between squash (14.75 ± 0.66 s) and nonsquash players (14.79 ± 0.41 s) on the IAR. Squash players (10.90 ± 0.44 s) outperformed nonsquash players (12.20 ± 0.34 s) on the SCODS (P < .01). Squash player rank significantly correlated with SCODS performance time (Spearman’s ρ = 0.77, P < .01), but not IAR performance time (Spearman’s ρ = 0.43, P = .21).Conclusions:The results suggest that the SCODS test is a better measure of sport-specific capability than an equivalent nonspecific field test and that it is a valid and reliable tool for talent identification and athlete tracking.

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