Brief Review of Methods to Quantify High-Speed Running in Rugby League

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bennett ◽  
Phil Marshall ◽  
Steve Barrett ◽  
James J. Malone ◽  
Chris Towlson
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Rugby League

Influence of Physical Contact on Pacing Strategies During Game-Based Activities

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rich D. Johnston ◽  
Tim J. Gabbett ◽  
Anthony J. Seibold ◽  
David G. Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Running Performance ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Pacing Strategies ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Purpose:Repeated sprinting incorporating tackles leads to greater reductions in sprint performance than repeated sprinting alone. However, the influence of physical contact on the running demands of game-based activities is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of physical contact altered pacing strategies during game-based activities.Methods:Twenty-three elite youth rugby league players were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 played the contact game on day 1 while group 2 played the noncontact game; 72 h later they played the alternate game. Each game consisted of offside touch on a 30 × 70-m field, played over two 8-min halves. Rules were identical between games except the contact game included a 10-s wrestle bout every 50 s. Microtechnology devices were used to analyze player movements.Results:There were greater average reductions during the contact game for distance (25%, 38 m/min, vs 10%, 20 m/min; effect size [ES] = 1.78 ± 1.02) and low-speed distance (21%, 24 m/min, vs 0%, 2 m/s; ES = 1.38 ± 1.02) compared with the noncontact game. There were similar reductions in high-speed running (41%, 18 m/min, vs 45%, 15 m/min; ES = 0.15 ± 0.95).Conclusions:The addition of contact to game-based activities causes players to reduce low-speed activity in an attempt to maintain high-intensity activities. Despite this, players were unable to maintain high-speed running while performing contact efforts. Improving a player’s ability to perform contact efforts while maintaining running performance should be a focus in rugby league training.

scholarly journals Multiple Measures are Needed to Quantify Training Loads in Professional Rugby League

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 735-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Weaving ◽  
Ben Jones ◽  
Phil Marshall ◽  
Kevin Till ◽  
Grant Abt
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Principal Components ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Component Analysis ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Training Load ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Training Mode

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the effect of training mode (conditioning and skills) on multivariate training load relationships in professional rugby league via principal component analysis. Four measures of training load (internal: heart rate exertion index, session rating of perceived exertion; external: PlayerLoad™, individualised high-speed distance) were collected from 23 professional male rugby league players over the course of one 12 wk preseason period. Training was categorised by mode (skills or conditioning) and then subjected to a principal component analysis. Extraction criteria were set at an eigenvalue of greater than 1. Modes that extracted more than 1 principal component were subject to a varimax rotation. Skills extracted 1 principal component, explaining 57% of the variance. Conditioning extracted 2 principal components (1st: internal; 2nd: external), explaining 85% of the variance. The presence of multiple training load dimensions (principal components) during conditioning training provides further evidence of the influence of training mode on the ability of individual measures of external or internal training load to capture training variance. Consequently, a combination of internal and external training-load measures is required during certain training modes.

Player Activity Profiles in the Australian Second-Tier Rugby League Competitions

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 816-823
Author(s):  
Joanne Hausler ◽  
Mark Halaki ◽  
Rhonda Orr
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
New South ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Relative Distance ◽  
Match Play ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Second Tier ◽  
Sprinting Speed ◽  
Very High

Purpose:To investigate activity profiles of Australian rugby league players during match play by competition, position, and match outcome in the New South Wales (NSW) second-tier competitions.Methods:Eighteen NSW Cup (NSWC) and 22 National Youth Competition (NYC) players, participating in this prospective cohort study, were categorized into 3 positional groups: forwards, adjustables, and outside backs. Global positioning system devices were used to examine activity profiles (distance and relative distance covered in walking, jogging, moderate, high, very high, and sprinting speed zones and quantification of high-speed movement) during match play in 21 NSWC and 22 NYC matches (N = 339 files).Results:NSWC players performed more sprints (36.5 ± 9.3 vs 28.4 ± 9.2) and greater relative distance in moderate speed zones (18.4 ± 3.2 vs 15.8 ± 3.1 m/min) than NYC. NSWC outside backs covered greater relative distance in jogging (29.4 ± 2.9 vs 24.8 ± 2.7 m/min) and moderate speed zones (17.0 ± 2.6 vs 12.8 ± 2.8 m/min) than their NYC counterparts. Adjustables performed more sprints (39.4 ± 10.1 vs 27.0 ± 9.2), high-intensity accelerations (3.7 ± 1.4 vs 1.9 ± 1.4), and relative distance (84.8 ± 4.3 vs 88.6 ± 4.8 m/min) than forwards and greater relative distance (81.5 ± 3.8 m/min) and sprints (31.0 ± 8.0) than outside backs. Adjustables recorded greater relative distance (19.8 m/min) in moderate speed zones than forwards (16.7 ± 3.1 m/min) and outside backs (14.9 ± 2.7 m/min). Adjustables covered ~685 m more than outside backs during a win.Conclusions:This is the first study to document the activity profiles of the NSW second-tier rugby league competition. The findings underscore the elevated match demands of adjustables and indicate higher intensity of play in NSWC than NYC that may more closely resemble the demands of National Rugby League match play.

Physical and Technical Demands of Rugby League 9s Tournament Match Play: A Preliminary Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 774-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Kempton ◽  
Aaron J. Coutts
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Activity Cycle ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
Match Play ◽  
Technical Performance ◽  
Cycle Lengths ◽  
System Data ◽  
Average Activity ◽  
Activity Cycles

Purpose:To describe the physical and technical demands of rugby league 9s (RL9s) match play for positional groups.Methods:Global positioning system data were collected during 4 games from 16 players from a team competing in the Auckland RL9s tournament. Players were classified into positional groups (pivots, outside backs, and forwards). Absolute and relative physical-performance data were classified as total high-speed running (HSR; >14.4 km/h), very-high-speed running (VHSR; >19.0 km/h), and sprint (>23.0 km/h) distances. Technical-performance data were obtained from a commercial statistics provider. Activity cycles were coded by an experienced video analyst.Results:Forwards (1088 m, 264 m) most likely completed less overall and high-speed distances than pivots (1529 m, 371 m) and outside backs (1328 m, 312 m). The number of sprint efforts likely varied between positions, although differences in accelerations were unclear. There were no clear differences in relative total (115.6−121.3 m/min) and HSR (27.8−29.8 m/min) intensities, but forwards likely performed less VHSR (7.7 m/min) and sprint distance (1.3 m/min) per minute than other positions (10.2−11.8 m/min, 3.7−4.8 m/min). The average activity and recovery cycle lengths were ~50 and ~27 s, respectively. The average longest activity cycle was ~133 s, while the average minimum recovery time was ~5 s. Technical involvements including tackles missed, runs, tackles received, total collisions, errors, off-loads, line breaks, and involvements differed between positions.Conclusions:Positional differences exist for both physical and technical measures, and preparation for RL9s play should incorporate these differences.

scholarly journals Combining Internal- and External-Training-Load Measures in Professional Rugby League

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 905-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Weaving ◽  
Phil Marshall ◽  
Keith Earle ◽  
Alan Nevill ◽  
Grant Abt
Keyword(s):  
Principal Components ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Training Load ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Training Dose ◽  
External Training ◽  
Training Impulse

Purpose:This study investigated the effect of training mode on the relationships between measures of training load in professional rugby league players.Methods:Five measures of training load (internal: individualized training impulse, session rating of perceived exertion; external—body load, high-speed distance, total impacts) were collected from 17 professional male rugby league players over the course of two 12-wk preseason periods. Training was categorized by mode (small-sided games, conditioning, skills, speed, strongman, and wrestle) and subsequently subjected to a principal-component analysis. Extraction criteria were set at an eigenvalue of greater than 1. Modes that extracted more than 1 principal component were subjected to a varimax rotation.Results:Small-sided games and conditioning extracted 1 principal component, explaining 68% and 52% of the variance, respectively. Skills, wrestle, strongman, and speed extracted 2 principal components each explaining 68%, 71%, 72%, and 67% of the variance, respectively.Conclusions:In certain training modes the inclusion of both internal and external training-load measures explained a greater proportion of the variance than any 1 individual measure. This would suggest that in training modes where 2 principal components were identified, the use of only a single internal or external training-load measure could potentially lead to an underestimation of the training dose. Consequently, a combination of internal- and external-load measures is required during certain training modes.

The content and load of preseason field-based training in a championship-winning professional rugby league team: A case study

2022 ◽  
pp. 174795412110648
Author(s):  
Matthew Fairbank ◽  
Jamie Highton ◽  
Matthew Daniels ◽  
Craig Twist
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Global Positioning System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Skill Training ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Metabolic Distance

This study reports on the content and periodisation of the preseason field-based training for a professional rugby league team. Thirty professional male rugby league players (26 ± 5 years, 180.9 ± 6.5 cm, 94 ± 9 kg) completed an 8-week preseason. Global positioning system devices and heart rate were used to monitor physical and physiological responses of different field-based training components (speed, conditioning, rugby skill and game-based training). Rugby skill training contributed the most to the total distance covered, conditioning was the greatest contributor to high-speed running (>15 km/h) and game-based training provided the greatest high metabolic distance (>20 W/kg) and overall external load. Game-based training provided the greatest time with heart rate ≥80% estimated maximum. The weekly preseason cycle had lower loads on Monday and Thursday whereas Tuesday and Friday produced the highest loads. The preseason described herein adopted a progressive overload comprising a weekly undulating cycle. This study emphasises how skill and games-based training contributes significantly to the overall load of a professional rugby league team's preseason with more traditional conditioning promoting high-speed running load and high metabolic load.

Importance of Various Training-Load Measures in Injury Incidence of Professional Rugby League Athletes

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi R. Thornton ◽  
Jace A. Delaney ◽  
Grant M. Duthie ◽  
Ben J. Dascombe
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Training Load ◽  
Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
The Individual

Purpose:To investigate the ability of various internal and external training-load (TL) monitoring measures to predict injury incidence among positional groups in professional rugby league athletes.Methods:TL and injury data were collected across 3 seasons (2013–2015) from 25 players competing in National Rugby League competition. Daily TL data were included in the analysis, including session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE-TL), total distance (TD), high-speed-running distance (>5 m/s), and high-metabolic-power distance (HPD; >20 W/kg). Rolling sums were calculated, nontraining days were removed, and athletes’ corresponding injury status was marked as “available” or “unavailable.” Linear (generalized estimating equations) and nonlinear (random forest; RF) statistical methods were adopted.Results:Injury risk factors varied according to positional group. For adjustables, the TL variables associated most highly with injury were 7-d TD and 7-d HPD, whereas for hit-up forwards they were sRPE-TL ratio and 14-d TD. For outside backs, 21- and 28-d sRPE-TL were identified, and for wide-running forwards, sRPE-TL ratio. The individual RF models showed that the importance of the TL variables in injury incidence varied between athletes.Conclusions:Differences in risk factors were recognized between positional groups and individual athletes, likely due to varied physiological capacities and physical demands. Furthermore, these results suggest that robust machine-learning techniques can appropriately monitor injury risk in professional team-sport athletes.

scholarly journals Movement Patterns and Match Statistics in the National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) Premiership

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Newans ◽  
Phillip Bellinger ◽  
Simon Buxton ◽  
Karlee Quinn ◽  
Clare Minahan
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
High Speed ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Models ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Global Positioning

As women's rugby league grows, the need for understanding the movement patterns of the sport is essential for coaches and sports scientists. The aims of the present study were to quantify the position-specific demographics, technical match statistics, and movement patterns of the National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) Premiership and to identify whether there was a change in the intensity of play as a function of game time played. A retrospective observational study was conducted utilizing global positioning system, demographic, and match statistics collected from 117 players from all NRLW clubs across the full 2018 and 2019 seasons and were compared between the ten positions using generalized linear mixed models. The GPS data were separated into absolute (i.e., total distance, high-speed running distance, and acceleration load) and relative movement patterns (i.e., mean speed, mean high speed (> 12 km·h−1), and mean acceleration). For absolute external outputs, fullbacks covered the greatest distance (5,504 m), greatest high-speed distance (1,081 m), and most ball-carry meters (97 m), while five-eighths recorded the greatest acceleration load (1,697 m·s−2). For relative external outputs, there were no significant differences in mean speed and mean high speed between positions, while mean acceleration only significantly differed between wingers and interchanges. Only interchange players significantly decreased in mean speed as their number of minutes played increased. By understanding the load of NRLW matches, coaches, high-performance staff, and players can better prepare as the NRLW Premiership expands. These movement patterns and match statistics of NRLW matches can lay the foundation for future research as women's rugby league expands. Similarly, coaches, high-performance staff, and players can also refine conditioning practices with a greater understanding of the external output of NRLW players.

scholarly journals Movement and Physiological Demands of Australasian National Rugby League Referees

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1080-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Brightmore ◽  
John O’Hara ◽  
Kevin Till ◽  
Steve Cobley ◽  
Tate Hubka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Physiological Variable ◽  
Match Play ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Physiological Demands

Purpose:To evaluate the movement and physiological demands of Australasian National Rugby League (NRL) referees, officiating with a 2-referee (ie, lead and pocket) system, and to compare the demands of the lead and pocket referees. Methods:Global positioning system devices (10 Hz) were used to obtain 86 data sets (lead, n = 41; pocket, n = 45) on 19 NRL referees. Total distance, relative distance covered, and heart rate per half and across match play were examined within and between referees using t tests. Distance, time, and number of movement “efforts” were examined in 6 velocity classifications (ie, standing <0.5, walking 0.51–2.0, jogging 2.01–4.0, running 4.01–5.5, high-speed running 5.51–7.0, and sprinting >7.0 m/s) using analysis of variance. Cohen d effect sizes are reported. Results:There were no significant differences between the lead and pocket referees for any movement or physiological variable. There was an overall significant (large, very large) effect for distance (% distance) and time (% time) (P < .001) between velocity classifications for both the lead and pocket referees. Both roles covered the largest distance and number of efforts at velocities of 0.51–2.0 m/s and 2.01–4.0 m/s, which were interspersed with efforts >5.51 m/s. Conclusions:Findings highlight the intermittent nature of rugby league refereeing but show that there were no differences in the movement and physiological demands of the 2 refereeing roles. Findings are valuable for those responsible for the preparation, training, and conditioning of NRL referees and to ensure that training prepares for and simulates match demands.

Influence of Number of Contact Efforts on Running Performance During Game-Based Activities

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 740-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rich D. Johnston ◽  
Tim J. Gabbett ◽  
David G. Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
High Intensity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Rugby League ◽  
Running Performance ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Back Squat ◽  
Multiple Contacts ◽  
Single Bout ◽  
Intensity Of Exercise ◽  
Single Contact

Purpose: To determine the influence the number of contact efforts during a single bout has on running intensity during game-based activities and assess relationships between physical qualities and distances covered in each game. Methods: Eighteen semiprofessional rugby league players (age 23.6 ± 2.8 y) competed in 3 off-side small-sided games (2 × 10-min halves) with a contact bout performed every 2 min. The rules of each game were identical except for the number of contact efforts performed in each bout. Players performed 1, 2, or 3 × 5-s wrestles in the single-, double-, and triple-contact game, respectively. The movement demands (including distance covered and intensity of exercise) in each game were monitored using global positioning system units. Bench-press and back-squat 1-repetition maximum and the 30−15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30−15IFT) assessed muscle strength and high-intensity-running ability, respectively. Results: There was little change in distance covered during the single-contact game (ES = −0.16 to −0.61), whereas there were larger reductions in the double- (ES = −0.52 to −0.81) and triple-contact (ES = −0.50 to −1.15) games. Significant relationships (P < .05) were observed between 30–15IFT and high-speed running during the single- (r = .72) and double- (r = .75), but not triple-contact (r = .20) game. Conclusions: There is little change in running intensity when only single contacts are performed each bout; however, when multiple contacts are performed, greater reductions in running intensity result. In addition, high-intensity-running ability is only associated with running performance when contact demands are low.

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