An athlete case study based on an Academy Rugby League Player. This presentation was delivered as part of a MSc module.

1. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Case Study

2. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Research Model used for the basis of case study
Sanctuary, C. Meir, R. & Sadler, I. 2012. The Seven Step Approach to the
Application of Sports Science in English Professional Rugby League:
Practical Considerations in Strength & Conditioning. International Journal of
Sports Science & Coaching Vol 7 (1) pp 33 – 44
Step One: Analysis of the Sports Performance
Step Two: Needs Analysis of the Team / Individual
Step Three: Design of the Intervention
Step Four: Implementing the Intervention
Step Five: Monitoring the Intervention and Promoting Adherence
Step Six: Evaluating the Intervention – Programme Modifications and
Analysis
Step Seven: Exiting the Intervention

3. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step One - Needs Analysis (Sport)
• The physiological demands of Rugby League are complex, requiring players to
have highly developed speed, agility, muscular strength & power and maximal
aerobic power (1)
• Body mass and excess body fat have been shown to have a negative effect on
sporting performance (2)
• Body fat for forwards and backs is reported to be similar (Forwards
15.6%, Backs 12.6%) (2)
• VO2 max has been reported in the range of 48.6 - 56.4ml.kg.min (3)
• A definite need to move quickly to position themselves for attack and defence
(2)
• Players rarely sprint distances >40m in a single bout (2)
• No significant differences have been observed between forwards and backs for
10m speed, Backs are consistently faster over 40m than forwards (4)
• The mean 10m & 40m times for professional rugby league players is in the
range of 1.71 – 1.83 and 5.08 – 5.66 seconds, respectively (5)

4. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step One - Needs Analysis (Sport)
• Given the highly intense, intermittent nature of Rugby League, repeated sprint
ability is extremely important (1)
• A time motion analysis highlighted forwards spending 16.5% of game time in
high intensity exercise compared to 17% for backs (6)
• This study reported every 4secs of high intensity exercise was followed by
approximately 21s of low intensity exercise (6)
• Rugby League players require the ability to rapidly accelerate, decelerate and
change direction (1)
• Players are required to have high levels of strength in order to effectively
tackle, lift, push and pull opponents during a match (1)
• Meir reported significant differences in 1RM squat between forwards and backs
(188 v 168kg) and bench press (119 v 113kg) (7)
• Greater strength in professional rugby league players has been attributed to
neural adaptations that occurs with long term periodized strength and power
training (1)

5. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step One - Needs Analysis (Sport)
• Superior playing performance of elite level players is often attributed to greater
physiological capabilities (8)
• Players also require the ability to constantly execute complex skills under
pressure and while fatigued (9)
• The significance of high physical fitness levels are reduced if the physiological
parameter does not transfer to improved playing performance (10)

6. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Two - Needs Analysis (Athlete)
Athlete Description
• Rugby League (Hooker)
• 18 Years
• Age Grade Elite Standard
• Injury Status: No recent or relevant injuries
• Training Status: Three years within RL Academy setting. Sound knowledge of
basic principles and strength training application. Olympic lift and derivatives
limited (developed during season).
• Personal Goals for Season:
Increase muscle mass
Increase 1RM scores for Bench Press & Squat
Improve 5 & 10m acceleration time
• Team / Coaches Goals for the Season:
Increase of lean mass
Increase speed scores across the board
Increase strength scores (end of season) by 20%

7. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Two - Needs Analysis (Athlete)
Activity Frequency Duration
Technical 3 2 x 1hr
1 x 2hrs
S&C 4 4 x 1hr

8. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Two - Needs Analysis (Athlete)
Standards
Poor Excellent
Test 1 2 3 4 5
Body Fat >50 49 - 40 39 - 30 29 - 20 <20
Lean Mass <50 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 >80
5m Sprint >1.30 1.29 - 1.2 1.19 - 1.1 1.09 - 0.90 <0.90
10m Sprint >2.05 2.04 - 1.95 1.94 - 1.85 1.85 - 1.66 <1.65
20m Sprint >3.45 3.44 - 3.3 3.29 - 3.15 3.14 - 2.86 <2.85
Squat 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2
Bench Press 0.75 0.9 1.05 1.2 >1.35
Prone Row 0.75 0.9 1.05 1.2 >1.35
Vertical Jump <40 41 - 47.5 47.6 - 55 55 - 62.5 >62.5
Yo-Yo <1200m 1200 - 1599m 1600 - 1999m 2000 - 2399m >2400m
FMS <3 6 9 12 15

9. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Two - Needs Analysis (Athlete)
Your Standards Your Scores
Oct-11 Dec-11 Feb-12 Oct-11 Dec-11 Feb-12
Test
Body Fat 4.6 4.5 4.5 23.8 25.2 25.4
Lean Mass 3 3.7 3.9 65.5 68.8 69.1
5m Sprint 3.9 4.5 4.5 1.1 0.97 0.96
10m Sprint 3.8 4.5 4.8 1.82 1.72 1.69
20m Sprint 3.8 4.5 4.6 3.13 2.96 2.94
Squat 4 4.2 4.6 130 140 145
Bench Press 4.1 5 5 95 105 110
Prone Row 3.5 4 4 82.5 92.5 92.5
Vertical Jump 4.1 4.4 4.7 57.4 58.4 60.2
Yo-Yo 4 4.2 4.5 2080 2200
2040
3.2 4 12
FMS 10

10. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Two - Needs Analysis (Athlete)
Body Fat
5
FMS Lean Mass
4
3
Yo-Yo 5m Sprint
2
1 Oct-11
Dec-11
0
Feb-12
Vertical Jump 10m Sprint
Prone Row 20m Sprint
Bench Press Squat

11. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Three - Design
• Training variation is increasingly acknowledged as serving a key function in
successful training prescriptions (11)
• Periodization offers a framework for planned and systematic variation of training
parameters, in a way that directs physiological adaptations on the training goals
required for the sport (12)
• Periodized training offers superior development of strength, power, body
composition and other performance variables (13)
• A major obstacle for coaches working in seasonal team sports is the frequent
matches and extended competition period (11)
• Team sports using the classic model would taper considerably for the duration of
the competition phase which is clearly counter productive (14)
• Coaches must take into account the interaction of metabolic conditioning that is
performed alongside strength and power training (15)
• It has been suggested that undulating nonlinear periodized approaches are more
viable when planning the training year for team sports (16)

12. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Three – Design (Macro Cycle)
It is the merging of science and sweat that will allow athletes to excel (17)
• Block One – Hypertrophy (German Volume Training)
• Block Two – Strength (22)
• Block Three – Strength Speed (20)
• Block Four – Speed Strength (22)

13. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Four – Implementation (Meso & Micro Cycles)
Week No 6
Day →
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Session ↓
Weight Training Heavy Heavy Medium Rest
Speed Light Medium Medium Rest
Agility Rest
Plyometrics Rest
Technical Heavy Medium Rest

14. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Five – Monitoring
Volume
Intensity
Hypertrophy Strength Strength Speed Speed Strength Endurance Strength Strength Speed
Speed Strength Speed Speed Strength

15. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Six - Evaluation
Positive
• Sequence of training day (18)
• Block Periodized model (19)
• Use of Olympic Lifts (20 & 22)
• Skill Based Conditioning Games (21)
Develop
• Monitoring of Training Loads (23)
• Loading parameters

16. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
Step Seven - Exit
• Professional contract signed
• Integrated approach with 1st team S&C
• Monitoring of test scores
• Off season conditioning plan to be
implemented

17. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
References
1 Gabbett T, King T and Jenkins D. 2008. Applied Physiology of Rugby League. Sports Med 38(2) pp 119 – 138
2 Meir R. et al. Physical qualities of professional rugby league football players: Determination of positional differences.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 15 pp 450 – 458
3 Brewer J. & Davis J. Applied Physiology of Rugby League. Sports Medicine 20 pp 129 – 135
4 Clark L. 2003. A comparison of the speed characteristics of elite rugby league players by grade and position. Strength
Cond Coach 10 pp 2 – 12
5 Baker D. and Nance S. 1999. The relation between running speed and measures of strength and power in professional
rugby league players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 13 pp 230 – 235
6 King T. Jenkins D. & Gabbett T. 2009. A time motion analysis of professional rugby league match play. Journal of Sports
Sciences 27 (3) pp 213 – 219
7 Meir R. 1993. Evaluating players fitness in professional rugby league reducing subjectivity. Strength and Conditioning
Coach 1 pp 11 – 17
8 Gabbett T. 2005. Science of Rugby League Football: A review. Journal of Sports Science 23 pp 961 – 76
9 Gabbett T. 2002. Influence of physiological characteristics on selection in a semi professional rugby league team: A case
study. Journal of Sports science 20 pp 399 – 405
10 Gabeet T et al. Relationship between physical fitness and playing ability in rugby league players. Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research In Press
11 Gamble P. 2006. Periodization of Training for Team Sports athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol 28 (5) pp 56 –
66
12 Brown L. & Greenwood M. 2005. Periodization essentials and innovations in resistance training protocols. Strength and
Conditioning Journal Vol 27(4) pp 80 – 85
13 Fleck S. 1997. Periodized strength training: A critical review. Journal of strength and Conditioning Research Vol 13 (1)
pp 82 - 89

18. Screening & Conditioning for Sports
References
14 Baker D. 1998. Applying In Season periodization of strength and power training to football. Strength and Conditioning
Journal Vol 25(3) pp 23 – 28
15 Gamble P. 2004. Physical preparation of elite level rugby union football players. Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol
26(4) pp 10 – 23
16 Fleck S. & Kraemer W. 1997. Designing resistance training programs. (2nd edition). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics
17 Meyers M. 2006. Enhancing sports performance: Merging sports science with coaching. International Journal of Sports
Science and Coaching Vol 1(1) pp 89 – 100
18 Gamble P. 2006. Periodization of Training for Team Sports Athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol 28 (5) pp 56-
66
19 Issurin V. 2010. New Horizons for the Methodology and Physiology of Training Perioidzation. Sports Med 40 (3) pp 189 –
206
20 Hori N. & Stone M. 2005. Weightlifting Exercises Enhance Athletic Performance That Requires High Load Speed
Strength. Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol 27 (4) pp 50 – 55
21 Gabbett T. 2006. Skills Based Conditioning Games As An Alternative to Traditional Conditioning for Rugby League
Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol 20 (2) pp 309 – 315
22 Kawamori N. & Haff G. 2004. The Optimal Training Load for the Development of Muscular Power. Journal of Strength
and Conditioning Research Vol 18 (3) pp 675-684
23 Kelly V. & Coutts A. 2007. Planning and Monitoring Training Loads During Competition Phase in Team Sports. Strength
and Conditioning Journal Vol 29 (4) pp 32 - 37