High-speed running (>5 m · s
−1
) is commonly reported in men's rugby union and sevens; however, the appropriateness of using the same speed threshold for Women's Rugby Sevens players is unclear, and ...likely underestimates the degree of high-intensity exercise completed by female players. The aim of this study was to establish, for international Women's Rugby Sevens players, a physiologically defined threshold - speed at the second ventilatory threshold (VT
2speed
) - for the analysis of high-intensity running, using mean and individualised thresholds. Game movement patterns (using 5 Hz GPS) of 12 international Women's Rugby Sevens players (23.5 ± 4.9 years, 1.68 ± 0.04 m, 68.2 ± 7.7 kg; mean ± s) were collected at an international tournament. Seven of these players also completed a treadmill VO
2max
test to estimate VT
2speed
. Compared to the mean VT
2speed
threshold (3.5 m · s
−1
), the industry-used threshold of 5 m · s
−1
underestimated the absolute amount of high-intensity running completed by individual players by up to 30%. Using an individualised threshold, high-intensity running could over- or underestimating high-intensity running by up to 14% compared to the mean VT
2speed
threshold. The use of individualised thresholds provides an accurate individualised assessment of game demands to inform the prescription of training.
Given the dearth of research available on the elite women’s Australian football (AFLW) competition, this study aimed to observe the position-specific peak movement demands of AFLW players and assess ...whether any seasonal changes have occurred in movement- or performance-based metrics over the initial three years of competition.
Observational longitudinal design.
Data were collected on one team across the initial three seasons of the AFLW competition. Global position system units were used to obtain the movement demands while performance metrics were obtained from an external statistical provider. Peak movement demands were determined using a rolling period analysis of 1−10 min durations. Mixed models were used to assess the influence of season and position on movement- and performance-based metrics.
Peak period high speed running (HSR, >14.4 km/h), but not total distance (TD), differed between playing positions, with midfielders covering the greatest peak period movements (p < 0.01). No seasonal changes were observed for peak periods of TD or HSR for any positions. Various mean running movements observed seasonal changes and positional differences (p < 0.01), albeit with small effect sizes. No performance-based metric differed by position. Seasonal changes were observed for handballs and uncontested possessions only (p < 0.01), with trivial effect sizes.
The small differences in on-field movement patterns and performance characteristics of AFLW players observed across seasons and between positional groups gives confidence that practitioners can continue to prescribe whole team rather than position-specific movement and technical training. External factors such as modification to competition structure and rules, or a change in team focus, may mask developments in this competition and warrants continued investigation.
Handheld percussive massage devices (ie, massage guns) are a relatively new and under-researched recovery tool. These tools are intended to increase range of motion and reduce muscle soreness by ...delivering targeted vibration to soft tissues. Empirical knowledge about the potential influence of these devices on perceptual recovery and the recovery of performance characteristics after exercise is scarce.
To investigate the effect of a 5-minute massage gun application, using a commercially available device, on physical and perceptual recovery after a strenuous bout of lower body exercise.
Controlled laboratory study.
Physiology laboratory.
A total of 65 active young adults (age = 21.3 ± 1.4 years; age range = 18-30 years; 34 women: height = 165.8 ± 6.1 cm, mass = 66.0 ± 7.4 kg; 31 men: height = 181.1 ± 6.0 cm, mass = 81.5 ± 11.8 kg).
Participants applied a massage gun on the calf muscles of 1 leg after strenuous exercise (massage gun recovery group) for 5 minutes and used no recovery intervention on the other leg (control group).
Ankle range of motion, calf circumference, isometric strength, calf endurance, and perceived muscle soreness measures were collected at baseline and at various points after lower body exercise.
No significant group × time interactions were recorded for any of the performance or perceptual measures (P values > .05). Effect sizes were mostly unclear, except for a small increase in perceived muscle soreness in the massage gun recovery group compared with the control group immediately (d = -0.35) and 4 hours (d = -0.48) postrecovery.
Massage guns appeared to have little effect on physical measures when applied for 5 minutes immediately after strenuous calf exercise. Given the small increase in muscle soreness up to 4 hours after their use, caution is recommended when using massage guns immediately after strenuous lower body exercise.
To inform recruitment, selection, training and testing of male and female rugby sevens players game running movement patterns and physical characteristics were quantified across junior, senior, and ...elite playing levels. Anthropometric and physical testing (40 m sprint, vertical jump, Yo-Yo IR1) occurred prior to players' national championships or international tournaments (n = 110 players), while game movements were obtained via GPS (n = 499 game files). The game movements of male players were similar across playing levels except for number of impacts >10 g which were 2 to 4-fold higher in elite (25.0 ± 11.2 impacts · game
−
1
; mean ± SD), than junior (6.3 ± 3.5) and senior (11.8 ± 6.6) players. In men, there were fewer substantial correlations between on- and off-field measures which may reflect similar physical attributes across playing levels, and that other (strength, technical or tactical) factors may better differentiate these players. In females, elite players had more favourable on- and off-field performance measures than juniors and seniors, with moderate to strong correlations between on- and off-field variables. Female players should benefit from additional fitness training, while male players need to balance fitness with other technical and tactical factors.
To identify what coaches, support staff, and athletes believe should be considered when implementing menstrual cycle tracking in sport.
Concept mapping (mixed-methods participatory approach).
...Participants brainstormed statements in response to the focus prompt “What should be considered when tracking menstrual cycles in sport?” Participants then sorted the statements into groups according to meaning and rated each statement on its importance and feasibility to address.
Twenty-six participants (12 athletes and 14 coaches/support staff) generated 53 ideas that the research team synthesised to 57 unique statements. Sixteen participants sorted the statements into an average of 8 (±4) groups. Six clusters were identified as the most appropriate representation of the sorting data following multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis: 1) Ethics, 2) Tracking Tools and Methods, 3) Performance and Health, 4) Education, 5) Interpretation and Framing and 6) Communication. Participants rated each statement based on their importance (n = 12) and feasibility (n = 10), respectively. The most important (mean = 3.88 out of 5) and feasible (mean = 3.85 out of 5) cluster was Ethics, whilst the least important (mean = 3.17) and feasible (mean = 3.04) was Communication.
Ethical considerations pertaining to privacy, consent, and scope of practice should be prioritised when tracking menstrual cycles in sport. A low burden method of tracking, which allows for some individualisation based on athletes' preferences or needs, and menstrual health education should also be undertaken to improve the uptake and impact of menstrual cycle tracking.
Youth footballers need to be developed to meet the technical, tactical, and physical demands of professional level competition, ensuring that the transition between competition levels is successful. ...To quantify the physical demands, peak match intensities have been measured across football competition tiers, with team formations and tactical approaches shown to influence these physical demands. To date, no research has directly compared the physical demands of elite youth and professional footballers from a single club utilising common formations and tactical approaches. The current study quantified the total match and peak match running demands of youth and professional footballers from a single Australian A-League club. GPS data were collected across a single season from both a professional (n = 19; total observations = 199; mean ± SD; 26.7 ± 4.0 years) and elite youth (n = 21; total observations = 59; 17.9 ± 1.3 years) team. Total match demands and peak match running demands (1-10 min) were quantified for measures of total distance, high-speed distance >19.8 km·h-1 and average acceleration. Linear mixed models and effect sizes identified differences between competition levels. No differences existed between competition levels for any total match physical performance metric. Peak total and high-speed distances demands were similar between competitions for all moving average durations. Interestingly, peak average acceleration demands were lower (SMD = 0.63-0.69) in the youth players across all moving average durations. The data suggest that the development of acceleration and repeat effort capacities is crucial in youth players for them to transition into professional competition.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aimed to identify seasonal changes in AFLW Draft Combine assessments, examine the physical and anthropometric assessments associated with draft outcome and investigate the presence of a ...relative age effect. Three seasons (2017-2019) of the AFLW Draft Combine assessment data were obtained (n = 131). Testing data between seasons were examined using a MANOVA. A factor analysis using principal components (identifying speed, lower body power, aerobic capacity, and anthropometry) was conducted prior to the construction of a binary logistic regression model. Speed (including 5, 10 and 20 m sprint times) significantly contributed to the binary logistic regression model discriminating drafted and non-drafted players (p = 0.040). A significant main effect of season was reported (p ≤ 0.01) with post-hoc tests confirming 5, 10 and 20 m sprint times were faster in the 2018 AFLW Draft Combine compared with the 2017 AFLW Draft Combine. No relative age effect was observed in this dataset. Overall, the 20 m sprint test showed the greatest difference between drafted and non-drafted players, while speed (collectively) was the greatest predictor of draft outcome. This data provides insight into the physical qualities of prospective players that were associated with selection to the AFLW competition in its first 3 years.
Wearable microtechnology is effective in detecting fast deliveries in cricket, however methods to quantify delivery intensity have not been established. This study aimed to investigate the utility of ...wearable sensors in quantifying cricket fast bowling intensity.
Fifteen sub-elite male fast bowlers performed deliveries at warm-up, match, and maximal intensities. A principal component analysis resulted in the selection of perceived exertion and seven variables of bowling exertion derived from trunk- (PlayerLoad™, trunk flexion velocity, trunk forward rotation velocity) and tibia-mounted (tibial acceleration at back foot contact, front foot contact, back foot re-contact and front foot re-contact) inertial measurement units for further analysis. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to investigate the effect of intensity on outcome variables. Significant main effects of intensity and large effect sizes were identified for all variables (p < .05, n
p
2
> 0.14). Measures from the match and maximal conditions were significantly larger compared with the warm-up condition (P
holm
< .05). No differences were observed between the match and maximal conditions (p > .05). Inertial measurement metrics can distinguish between a warm-up effort and both match and maximal fast bowling delivery intensity. These devices provide a unique, time-efficient approach to cricket fast bowling exertion quantification.
Temporal changes in the total running demands of professional football competition have been well documented, with absolute running demands decreasing in the second half. However, it is unclear ...whether the peak match running demands demonstrate a similar decline. A total of 508 GPS files were collected from 44 players, across 68 matches of the Australian A-League. GPS files were split into the 1
and 2
half, with the peak running demands of each half quantified across 10 moving average durations (1-10 min) for three measures of running performance (total distance, high-speed distance > 19.8 km
h
and average acceleration). Players were categorised based on positional groups: attacking midfielder (AM), central defender (CD), defensive midfielder (DM), striker (STR), wide defender (WD) and winger (WNG). Linear mixed models and effect sizes were used to identify differences between positional groups and halves. Peak running demands were lower in the second half for STR across all three reported metrics (ES = 0.60-0.84), with peak average acceleration lower in the second half for DM, WD and WNG (ES = 0.60-0.70). Irrespective of match half, AM covered greater peak total distances than CD, STR, WD and WIN (ES = 0.60-2.08). Peak high-speed distances were greater across both halves for WIN than CD, DM and STR (ES = 0.78-1.61). Finally, STR had lower peak average acceleration than all positional groups across both halves (ES = 0.60-1.12). These results may help evaluate implemented strategies that attempt to mitigate reductions in second half running performance and inform position specific training practices.
To compare positional differences in the physical and technical demands of Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) match-play. A secondary aim was to examine the time course changes in activity ...profiles during AFLW match-play.
Longitudinal observational study.
Global positioning system data were collected from 26 players (6 positional groups) from the same club during seven AFLW matches. Absolute and relative physical performance data were categorised into total distance, high-speed running (>14.4kmh−1, HSR), very high-speed running (>18.0kmh−1, VHSR), and sprinting distance (>20.0kmh−1, Sprint). Technical performance data was obtained from a commercial statistics provider. A mixed model analysis was used to examine differences between positional groups and playing quarters.
Absolute measures of running performance did not differ between position groups. Relative total distance was moderately greater (ES=∼0.80, p<0.05) for midfielders, small backs and small forwards (125–128mmin−1) than tall backs and tall forwards (102–107mmin−1). Relative HSR distance was greater (ES=∼0.73) for midfielders and small backs (∼28mmin−1) than tall backs (17mmin−1). Analysis of technical performance indicators showed: midfielders and small forwards had the most inside 50s; tall backs had the highest number of rebound 50s; tall forwards scored more goals; while midfielders made more tackles (p<0.05). All relative running performance measures were reduced in the fourth quarter when compared to the first and second quarters (ES=0.32–0.77).
These data can be used as benchmarks for temporal analysis of AFLW match demands and assist in developing specific training strategies.
