The document analyzes technical factors that determine performance in tackles and rucks in international rugby union. It finds that front-on tackles reduce the chances of offloads and tackle breaks, while fending during contact increases those chances. It also finds that actively placing the ball in rucks increases the probability of maintaining possession. The techniques identified should be emphasized in training to improve competition performance and strategies.
This systematic review examined 49 studies on the effects of foam rolling (FR) on performance and recovery. Regarding performance, FR appears to be an effective warm-up tool to increase flexibility, but should be used in combination with dynamic stretching and active warm-up. The optimal duration to improve flexibility is 90-120 seconds of FR. Regarding recovery, FR may reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle pain after exercise. FR also seems to enhance recovery when used after exercise, improving symptoms of post-exercise muscle pain. Dosages of 3-5 sets of 30-60 seconds of FR with 10-30 second rest periods appear optimal for recovery and performance benefits.
This article provides recommendations for the physical preparation of elite rugby sevens athletes based on the demands of competition. It discusses the match demands which include high intensity intermittent running over short matches played in tournament formats. It recommends a focus on running skills, strength, and match-specific conditioning to develop the qualities needed. Programs should allow for running, power, injury prevention and tactical training within a structure that considers competition schedules and recovery between tournaments.
Training load monitoring can inform decisions at multiple levels of athlete management, from long-term season planning to in-session adjustments. At a long-term level, load monitoring can be used to understand an athlete's profile over multiple seasons, identify high stress periods, and plan for sport-specific demands. In the short-term, load data can help evaluate daily training plans, assess an athlete's response and progression, and determine if injury risks are elevated. While load data provides useful insights, it cannot predict injury on its own and should not be used in an overly risk-averse manner that restricts important training. Practitioners must consider numerous contextual factors for each athlete to properly interpret and apply load monitoring information.
This study examined the relationship between caffeine consumption before Super Rugby games and post-game sleep in 20 elite rugby players. Players wore activity monitors to measure sleep for 3 days before, after, and the night of an evening game. Players consumed caffeine as normal before and during games. Caffeine levels in saliva were higher after games than before in most players. This was associated with a 3.5 hour delay in falling asleep and 1.5 fewer hours of sleep after games. The findings suggest that caffeine before Super Rugby games can negatively impact post-game sleep quality and duration.
This review summarizes research on the match demands of elite men's rugby sevens. Physical performance is measured using GPS and involves high total distances and high-speed running compared to other team sports. Technical performance is measured using match statistics and involves executing offensive and defensive skills to score or prevent points. However, the factors influencing changes in physical and technical performance have not been investigated. There is a lack of research on the situational and individual factors affecting performance in elite rugby sevens. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand these influences and help coaches improve player preparation.
This study examined the impact of four different small-sided games (SSGs) on the physical and physiological demands of rugby union players. Fourteen players participated in 15-minute sessions of: 1) 1 vs 1 evasion drills, 2) 2 vs 1 evasion drills, 3) 7 vs 7 matches, and 4) 7-a-side matches. Data on distances covered, impacts, and heart rate was collected. While heart rates were similar between SSGs, impacts varied, with the 1 vs 1 drill producing the fewest impacts per minute. The SSG formats elicited different levels of physical performance and skill qualities from players. Future use of this data may help coaches design position-specific training programs
Maximal sprinting speed of elite soccer playersFernando Farias
Current findings might help individuals involved within the physical preparation of players (e.g. technical coaches, fitness coaches, and sport science staff) when developing training programs and training sessions in line with the playing positions, and with the levels of high speed running targeted to reach during specific training drills like sided-games.
Indeed, the closer to match-play situations regarding the rules with goals, goalkeepers, the larger pitch sizes and greater number of players involved, the higher sprinting speed running players would reach during sided-games. However, coaches are advised to add specific speed drills to sided-games in order to elicit a stimulus of high-speed running high enough to prepare players for competition.
The document analyzes technical factors that determine performance in tackles and rucks in international rugby union. It finds that front-on tackles reduce the chances of offloads and tackle breaks, while fending during contact increases those chances. It also finds that actively placing the ball in rucks increases the probability of maintaining possession. The techniques identified should be emphasized in training to improve competition performance and strategies.
This systematic review examined 49 studies on the effects of foam rolling (FR) on performance and recovery. Regarding performance, FR appears to be an effective warm-up tool to increase flexibility, but should be used in combination with dynamic stretching and active warm-up. The optimal duration to improve flexibility is 90-120 seconds of FR. Regarding recovery, FR may reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle pain after exercise. FR also seems to enhance recovery when used after exercise, improving symptoms of post-exercise muscle pain. Dosages of 3-5 sets of 30-60 seconds of FR with 10-30 second rest periods appear optimal for recovery and performance benefits.
This article provides recommendations for the physical preparation of elite rugby sevens athletes based on the demands of competition. It discusses the match demands which include high intensity intermittent running over short matches played in tournament formats. It recommends a focus on running skills, strength, and match-specific conditioning to develop the qualities needed. Programs should allow for running, power, injury prevention and tactical training within a structure that considers competition schedules and recovery between tournaments.
Training load monitoring can inform decisions at multiple levels of athlete management, from long-term season planning to in-session adjustments. At a long-term level, load monitoring can be used to understand an athlete's profile over multiple seasons, identify high stress periods, and plan for sport-specific demands. In the short-term, load data can help evaluate daily training plans, assess an athlete's response and progression, and determine if injury risks are elevated. While load data provides useful insights, it cannot predict injury on its own and should not be used in an overly risk-averse manner that restricts important training. Practitioners must consider numerous contextual factors for each athlete to properly interpret and apply load monitoring information.
This study examined the relationship between caffeine consumption before Super Rugby games and post-game sleep in 20 elite rugby players. Players wore activity monitors to measure sleep for 3 days before, after, and the night of an evening game. Players consumed caffeine as normal before and during games. Caffeine levels in saliva were higher after games than before in most players. This was associated with a 3.5 hour delay in falling asleep and 1.5 fewer hours of sleep after games. The findings suggest that caffeine before Super Rugby games can negatively impact post-game sleep quality and duration.
This review summarizes research on the match demands of elite men's rugby sevens. Physical performance is measured using GPS and involves high total distances and high-speed running compared to other team sports. Technical performance is measured using match statistics and involves executing offensive and defensive skills to score or prevent points. However, the factors influencing changes in physical and technical performance have not been investigated. There is a lack of research on the situational and individual factors affecting performance in elite rugby sevens. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand these influences and help coaches improve player preparation.
This study examined the impact of four different small-sided games (SSGs) on the physical and physiological demands of rugby union players. Fourteen players participated in 15-minute sessions of: 1) 1 vs 1 evasion drills, 2) 2 vs 1 evasion drills, 3) 7 vs 7 matches, and 4) 7-a-side matches. Data on distances covered, impacts, and heart rate was collected. While heart rates were similar between SSGs, impacts varied, with the 1 vs 1 drill producing the fewest impacts per minute. The SSG formats elicited different levels of physical performance and skill qualities from players. Future use of this data may help coaches design position-specific training programs
Maximal sprinting speed of elite soccer playersFernando Farias
Current findings might help individuals involved within the physical preparation of players (e.g. technical coaches, fitness coaches, and sport science staff) when developing training programs and training sessions in line with the playing positions, and with the levels of high speed running targeted to reach during specific training drills like sided-games.
Indeed, the closer to match-play situations regarding the rules with goals, goalkeepers, the larger pitch sizes and greater number of players involved, the higher sprinting speed running players would reach during sided-games. However, coaches are advised to add specific speed drills to sided-games in order to elicit a stimulus of high-speed running high enough to prepare players for competition.
To examine the acute effects of generic (Running Drills, RD) and specific (Small-
Sided Games, SSG) Long Sprint Ability (LSA) drills on internal and external load of male
soccer-players. Methods: Fourteen academy-level soccer-players (mean±SD; age 17.6±0.61
years, height 1.81±0.63 m, body-mass 69.53±4.65 kg) performed four 30s LSA bouts for
maintenance (work:rest, 1:2) and production (1:5) with RD and SSG drills. Players’ external-
load was tracked with GPS technology (20Hz) and heart-rate (HR), blood-lactate
concentrations (BLc) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to characterize players’
internal-load. Individual peak BLc was assessed with a 30s all-out test on a non-motorized
treadmill (NMT). Results: Compared to SSGs the RDs had a greater effect on external-load
and BLc (large and small, respectively). During SSGs players covered more distance with
high-intensity decelerations (moderate-to-small). Muscular-RPE was higher (small-to-large)
in RD than in SSG. The production mode exerted a moderate effect on BLc while the
maintenance condition elicited higher cardiovascular effects (small-to-large). Conclusion:
The results of this study showed the superiority of generic over specific drills in inducing
LSA related physiological responses. In this regard production RD showed the higher post-
exercise BLc. Interestingly, individual peak blood-lactate responses were found after the
NMT 30s all-out test, suggesting this drill as a valid option to RD bouts. The practical
physiological diversity among the generic and specific LSA drills here considered, enable
fitness trainers to modulate prescription of RD and SSG drills for LSA according to training
schedule.
Differences in strength and speed demands between 4v4 and 8v8 SSGFernando Farias
Small-sided games (SSGs) have been extensively used in training
footballers worldwide and have shown very good efficacy in
improving player performance (Hill-Haas, Dawson, Impellizzeri,
& Coutts, 2011). As an example, it has been shown that the
technical performance (Owen, Wong del, McKenna, & Dellal,
2011) and physical performance (Chaouachi et al., 2014; Dellal,
Varliette, Owen, Chirico, & Pialoux, 2012) of footballers can be
enhanced using SSG-based football training programmes.
In the last two decades, extensive research has been pub-
lished on physical and physiological response during SSGs in
football (for refs, see Halouani, Chtourou, Gabbett, Chaouachi,
& Chamari, 2014). It was found that the time-motion charac-
teristics of SSGs could vary greatly depending on certain
structural (e.g., pitch size, number of players, type and number
of goals) and rule (e.g., number of ball touches) constraints.
For example, it was observed that higher maximum speeds are
reached during SSGs played on bigger pitches (Casamichana &
Castellano, 2010). Furthermore, heart rate (HR) and lactate
concentrations were shown to be sensitive to structural and
rule changes in SSGs.
Physiological responses of general vs. specific aerobic endurance exercises i...Fernando Farias
The study aimed to compare the physiological and perceptual
responses of two high intensity intermittent aerobic exercises (HIIE), i.e. the
15s/15s exercise and an exercise on the Hoff track (HTE).
Effects of high intensity running training on soccer-specific fitness in profes...Fernando Farias
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not physiological and performance gains could be achieved
with the addition of high-intensity running to an existing training programme in a group of well trained professional male
soccer players.
Bilateral and unilateral vertical ground reaction forcesFernando Farias
The purposes of this study were to assess unilateral and bilateral vertical jump performance
characteristics, and to compare the vertical ground reaction force characteristics of the impulse and landing
phase of a vertical jump between the dominant and non-dominant leg in soccer players.
Assessment and testing of specific endurance in soccer playersFernando Farias
S
occer is a multifaceted game requiring a complex interaction
of multiple physical abilities. Elite soccer players rarely
demonstrate exceptional ability or capacity in one physical
domain, yet they are often highly competent in several different
areas. When analyzing soccer performance, it can be very difficult
to differentiate the various physical factors due to significant
crossover and interactions between abilities. Individual game
physiology varies based on technical and tactical demands, and
specific requirements and characteristics of each position. Large
variations also exist across individuals and playing levels, in terms
of game demands and fatigue. With this in mind, both training and
testing protocols should be individualized to each specific player.
1) A study investigated the effects of 22 weeks of periodized soccer training focused on technical-tactical ability in young players.
2) The training reduced markers of muscle damage (CK and LDH levels) over time and improved high-intensity performance and tactical metrics in games.
3) Players who saw greater reductions in muscle damage markers also had larger increases in high-intensity actions during games.
The document compares pre-season preparation programs in rugby union from two sources. Gamble's program was 13 weeks total with 2 weeks of hypertrophy work, 8 weeks of strength work, and 3 weeks of power work. Corcoran and Bird's program was 20 weeks total with 8 weeks of hypertrophy, 6 weeks of strength, and 6 weeks of power. The document discusses factors like exercise selection and how it relates to mechanical specificity, as well as differences in volume and intensity between strength and power phases.
Attaque dans les 22m importance du volume de courseThibaut TATRY
This study investigated the running demands of attacking 22 entries in rugby union compared to average game demands, and whether differences exist between successful and unsuccessful attacking 22 entries. Global positioning system data was collected from 43 professional rugby union players over 11 games. Attacking 22 entries had significantly higher running intensity than average game demands across all positions. Forwards achieved significantly greater high-speed running intensity in successful attacking 22 entries compared to unsuccessful entries. This suggests forwards should aim for higher high-speed running intensity in attacking 22 entries to increase the likelihood of success.
EFFECTS OF STRENGTH TRAINING ON SQUAT AND SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN SOCCER PLAYERSFernando Farias
We have demonstrated that a simple in-season strength training program resulted in an improvement in maximal back squat performance, which was reflected in improve- ments in short sprint performance, as identified by a decrease in sprint time over 5, 10, and 20 m, in professional soccer players, in line with the hypotheses. Furthermore, the changes in relative 1RM squat strength demonstrate strong associations with the changes in 5 (r = 0.62), 10 (r = 0.78), and 20-m (r = 0.60) sprint performances.
With COVID-19 still disrupting training and coaches looking to plan for returning to play, I thought I would share my UKSCA presentation which I recently passed. I used an example at Heriots Rugby and shows our return to play program in the aim of playing back in October. I'm keen to share this to help any other coaches and to create any discussion/feedback for myself and see if there is other things I could have done to improve on this. Really keen to start sharing more work and see how I can improve and changes things from feedback!
The Role of the Strength and Conditioning CoachMatt Smith
The role of the strength and conditioning coach is to develop athletes physically and physiologically for elite sports performance through improving strength, speed, flexibility, and muscular endurance. The strength coach bridges the gap between training theory and practice to help athletes perform better and reduce injury risk. A strength coach wears many hats, acting as a disciplinarian, friend, mentor, organizer, manager, public relations officer, teacher, trainer, motivator, fundraiser, and analyst focused on taking any action to upgrade the physical qualities needed for athletic success. The quality of a coach's work depends on the quality of relationships built through effective communication.
This case study examines the strength and conditioning program for a 22-year old Irish rugby union prop. Needs analysis identified key physical qualities like squat strength, power, and anaerobic capacity for scrumming and lineouts. Testing evaluated size, strength, power, speed, agility, and aerobic/anaerobic capacity. The preseason program emphasized hypertrophy, strength, and power development through compound lifts, complexes, and split sessions to increase muscle and fitness for the upcoming season. The program was periodized and included monitoring to prevent overtraining and support continued progress.
Variation in body composition in professional soccer playersFernando Farias
The present study was the first to compare
body composition according to 6 positional roles. Results
showed that in midfielders, mean body fat and mass values in
players with a central and lateral role differed substantially.
This finding is noteworthy and suggests that when mean
body composition values are assessed across teams, data
should be interpreted according to individual positional role
and not to a traditional or basic division of 4 positional
groups including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and
attackers.
Body composition of english premier league soccer playersFernando Farias
Body composition is a key consideration in the physical make-up of professional soccer players. The aims of the present
study were to determine whether the body composition of professional soccer players varied according to playing position,
international status or ethnicity, and to establish which variables best distinguished the soccer players from a reference group.
Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 64 male professional soccer players
Body composition assessment of english premier leagueFernando Farias
The measurement of body composition is now a fun-
damental component of sport science support in elite-
level soccer. Indeed, regular assessments of body com-
position are often used to determine suitability for
competition as well as to monitor the effectiveness of
dietary and training interventions (Sutton, Scott,
Wallace, & Reilly, 2009).
Training Load and Fatigue Marker Associations with Injury and IllnessFernando Farias
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the litera-
ture that has reported the monitoring of longitudinal
training load and fatigue and its relationship with injury
and illness. The current findings highlight disparity in the
terms used to define training load, fatigue, injury and ill-
ness, as well as a lack of investigation of fatigue and
training load interactions. Key stages of training and
competition where the athlete is at an increased risk of
injury/illness risk were identified. These included periods
of training load intensification, accumulation of training
load and acute change in load. Modifying training load
during these periods may help reduce the potential for
injury and illness.
Athlete Development Portfolio PresentationKevin Shattock
A presentation as part of Applied Conditioning for Sport module for MSc Strength & Conditioning course at the University of Salford.
Multi disciplinary approach considering nutrition, biomechanics, technical, phyio / rehab and the overall impact of S&C programming.
Postactivation potentiation in elite youth rugby players: the acute effects o...Sam Collins
This document provides an overview of a study that investigated the potentiating effects of heavy back squats, heavy front squats, and depth jumps on subsequent countermovement jump and 10m sprint performance in elite youth rugby players. Nine participants performed one of the voluntary conditioning activities and were tested on countermovement jump and sprint times at 4, 7, and 10 minutes post-activity. The depth jumps elicited the most significant potentiation for countermovement jump performance compared to the other activities. While all activities improved sprint times over the control, the heavy back squats produced the most significant results and greatest potentiation compared to the other activities.
Comparative Study on Physical Fitness of Volleyball and Football Players in U...iosrjce
Background: Physical fitness is an essential first and foremost criterion in every game. Without having physical
fitness no one can elicit his amble performance level. Therefore it is essential to investigate that in which game
among Volleyball and Football, the level of physical fitness is more essential. Aim: The purpose of this study
was to investigate the level of physical fitness of volleyball player and football player in university level.
Methodology: For the present study 15 male volleyball players and 15 male football players were selected
randomly and they had participated in university competition in 2004 from Jadavpur University. Age group of
the subjects was 18-24 years. To find out the physical fitness APHERED Youth Physical Fitness Test were
conducted. Statistics: For comparison of various physical fitness components of volley ball players and football
player independent t-test has done and level of significance has verified at 0.05 levels. Result: Finding reveals
that muscular strength of football player (5.33 times/min. pull ups) was higher than volley ball player (4.87
times/min. pull ups), the muscular endurance of football player (39.86 times sit ups) was higher than volleyball
player (38.73 times sit ups), agility of football player (19.32 sec.) was higher than volleyball player (19.78 sec.),
explosive leg strength of football player (6.90 mts.) was higher than volleyball player (6.78 mts.), Speed of
football player (6.70 sec.) was higher than volley ball player (6.99 sec.) and also cardiovascular endurance of
football player (1.82 min.) was higher than volleyball player (1.82 min.) but the difference in agility and speed
were significant at 0.05 level. Conclusion: The physical fitness of football player was higher than the volleyball
player.
Case study for rugby athlete in rehabilitationDaniel Kapsis
This case study examined an 8-week nutritional intervention for a rugby player undergoing rehabilitation for a shoulder injury. The intervention consisted of a 3,400 kcal per day diet with high protein and carbohydrates, as well as creatine and whey protein supplements. The athlete gained 5.2 kg total, of which 4.9 kg was lean muscle mass while maintaining his body fat percentage. Arm measurements increased significantly, indicating muscle hypertrophy. The intervention successfully helped the athlete rapidly gain muscle mass during rehabilitation without increasing body fat.
This document summarizes a study that analyzed physical performance test data from 1,161 New Zealand rugby union players from 2004 to 2007 to determine differences between playing positions, levels, and years, and changes within players between competitions. The study found that props had the highest mass, body fat, and strength but slowest speeds, while outside backs had the lowest body fat and fastest speeds. Players at higher levels generally performed better than lower levels. Players improved annually in strength and repeated sprint ability. Physical performance generally decreased during professional competitions but increased when moving to higher level competitions.
To examine the acute effects of generic (Running Drills, RD) and specific (Small-
Sided Games, SSG) Long Sprint Ability (LSA) drills on internal and external load of male
soccer-players. Methods: Fourteen academy-level soccer-players (mean±SD; age 17.6±0.61
years, height 1.81±0.63 m, body-mass 69.53±4.65 kg) performed four 30s LSA bouts for
maintenance (work:rest, 1:2) and production (1:5) with RD and SSG drills. Players’ external-
load was tracked with GPS technology (20Hz) and heart-rate (HR), blood-lactate
concentrations (BLc) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to characterize players’
internal-load. Individual peak BLc was assessed with a 30s all-out test on a non-motorized
treadmill (NMT). Results: Compared to SSGs the RDs had a greater effect on external-load
and BLc (large and small, respectively). During SSGs players covered more distance with
high-intensity decelerations (moderate-to-small). Muscular-RPE was higher (small-to-large)
in RD than in SSG. The production mode exerted a moderate effect on BLc while the
maintenance condition elicited higher cardiovascular effects (small-to-large). Conclusion:
The results of this study showed the superiority of generic over specific drills in inducing
LSA related physiological responses. In this regard production RD showed the higher post-
exercise BLc. Interestingly, individual peak blood-lactate responses were found after the
NMT 30s all-out test, suggesting this drill as a valid option to RD bouts. The practical
physiological diversity among the generic and specific LSA drills here considered, enable
fitness trainers to modulate prescription of RD and SSG drills for LSA according to training
schedule.
Differences in strength and speed demands between 4v4 and 8v8 SSGFernando Farias
Small-sided games (SSGs) have been extensively used in training
footballers worldwide and have shown very good efficacy in
improving player performance (Hill-Haas, Dawson, Impellizzeri,
& Coutts, 2011). As an example, it has been shown that the
technical performance (Owen, Wong del, McKenna, & Dellal,
2011) and physical performance (Chaouachi et al., 2014; Dellal,
Varliette, Owen, Chirico, & Pialoux, 2012) of footballers can be
enhanced using SSG-based football training programmes.
In the last two decades, extensive research has been pub-
lished on physical and physiological response during SSGs in
football (for refs, see Halouani, Chtourou, Gabbett, Chaouachi,
& Chamari, 2014). It was found that the time-motion charac-
teristics of SSGs could vary greatly depending on certain
structural (e.g., pitch size, number of players, type and number
of goals) and rule (e.g., number of ball touches) constraints.
For example, it was observed that higher maximum speeds are
reached during SSGs played on bigger pitches (Casamichana &
Castellano, 2010). Furthermore, heart rate (HR) and lactate
concentrations were shown to be sensitive to structural and
rule changes in SSGs.
Physiological responses of general vs. specific aerobic endurance exercises i...Fernando Farias
The study aimed to compare the physiological and perceptual
responses of two high intensity intermittent aerobic exercises (HIIE), i.e. the
15s/15s exercise and an exercise on the Hoff track (HTE).
Effects of high intensity running training on soccer-specific fitness in profes...Fernando Farias
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not physiological and performance gains could be achieved
with the addition of high-intensity running to an existing training programme in a group of well trained professional male
soccer players.
Bilateral and unilateral vertical ground reaction forcesFernando Farias
The purposes of this study were to assess unilateral and bilateral vertical jump performance
characteristics, and to compare the vertical ground reaction force characteristics of the impulse and landing
phase of a vertical jump between the dominant and non-dominant leg in soccer players.
Assessment and testing of specific endurance in soccer playersFernando Farias
S
occer is a multifaceted game requiring a complex interaction
of multiple physical abilities. Elite soccer players rarely
demonstrate exceptional ability or capacity in one physical
domain, yet they are often highly competent in several different
areas. When analyzing soccer performance, it can be very difficult
to differentiate the various physical factors due to significant
crossover and interactions between abilities. Individual game
physiology varies based on technical and tactical demands, and
specific requirements and characteristics of each position. Large
variations also exist across individuals and playing levels, in terms
of game demands and fatigue. With this in mind, both training and
testing protocols should be individualized to each specific player.
1) A study investigated the effects of 22 weeks of periodized soccer training focused on technical-tactical ability in young players.
2) The training reduced markers of muscle damage (CK and LDH levels) over time and improved high-intensity performance and tactical metrics in games.
3) Players who saw greater reductions in muscle damage markers also had larger increases in high-intensity actions during games.
The document compares pre-season preparation programs in rugby union from two sources. Gamble's program was 13 weeks total with 2 weeks of hypertrophy work, 8 weeks of strength work, and 3 weeks of power work. Corcoran and Bird's program was 20 weeks total with 8 weeks of hypertrophy, 6 weeks of strength, and 6 weeks of power. The document discusses factors like exercise selection and how it relates to mechanical specificity, as well as differences in volume and intensity between strength and power phases.
Attaque dans les 22m importance du volume de courseThibaut TATRY
This study investigated the running demands of attacking 22 entries in rugby union compared to average game demands, and whether differences exist between successful and unsuccessful attacking 22 entries. Global positioning system data was collected from 43 professional rugby union players over 11 games. Attacking 22 entries had significantly higher running intensity than average game demands across all positions. Forwards achieved significantly greater high-speed running intensity in successful attacking 22 entries compared to unsuccessful entries. This suggests forwards should aim for higher high-speed running intensity in attacking 22 entries to increase the likelihood of success.
EFFECTS OF STRENGTH TRAINING ON SQUAT AND SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN SOCCER PLAYERSFernando Farias
We have demonstrated that a simple in-season strength training program resulted in an improvement in maximal back squat performance, which was reflected in improve- ments in short sprint performance, as identified by a decrease in sprint time over 5, 10, and 20 m, in professional soccer players, in line with the hypotheses. Furthermore, the changes in relative 1RM squat strength demonstrate strong associations with the changes in 5 (r = 0.62), 10 (r = 0.78), and 20-m (r = 0.60) sprint performances.
With COVID-19 still disrupting training and coaches looking to plan for returning to play, I thought I would share my UKSCA presentation which I recently passed. I used an example at Heriots Rugby and shows our return to play program in the aim of playing back in October. I'm keen to share this to help any other coaches and to create any discussion/feedback for myself and see if there is other things I could have done to improve on this. Really keen to start sharing more work and see how I can improve and changes things from feedback!
The Role of the Strength and Conditioning CoachMatt Smith
The role of the strength and conditioning coach is to develop athletes physically and physiologically for elite sports performance through improving strength, speed, flexibility, and muscular endurance. The strength coach bridges the gap between training theory and practice to help athletes perform better and reduce injury risk. A strength coach wears many hats, acting as a disciplinarian, friend, mentor, organizer, manager, public relations officer, teacher, trainer, motivator, fundraiser, and analyst focused on taking any action to upgrade the physical qualities needed for athletic success. The quality of a coach's work depends on the quality of relationships built through effective communication.
This case study examines the strength and conditioning program for a 22-year old Irish rugby union prop. Needs analysis identified key physical qualities like squat strength, power, and anaerobic capacity for scrumming and lineouts. Testing evaluated size, strength, power, speed, agility, and aerobic/anaerobic capacity. The preseason program emphasized hypertrophy, strength, and power development through compound lifts, complexes, and split sessions to increase muscle and fitness for the upcoming season. The program was periodized and included monitoring to prevent overtraining and support continued progress.
Variation in body composition in professional soccer playersFernando Farias
The present study was the first to compare
body composition according to 6 positional roles. Results
showed that in midfielders, mean body fat and mass values in
players with a central and lateral role differed substantially.
This finding is noteworthy and suggests that when mean
body composition values are assessed across teams, data
should be interpreted according to individual positional role
and not to a traditional or basic division of 4 positional
groups including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and
attackers.
Body composition of english premier league soccer playersFernando Farias
Body composition is a key consideration in the physical make-up of professional soccer players. The aims of the present
study were to determine whether the body composition of professional soccer players varied according to playing position,
international status or ethnicity, and to establish which variables best distinguished the soccer players from a reference group.
Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 64 male professional soccer players
Body composition assessment of english premier leagueFernando Farias
The measurement of body composition is now a fun-
damental component of sport science support in elite-
level soccer. Indeed, regular assessments of body com-
position are often used to determine suitability for
competition as well as to monitor the effectiveness of
dietary and training interventions (Sutton, Scott,
Wallace, & Reilly, 2009).
Training Load and Fatigue Marker Associations with Injury and IllnessFernando Farias
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the litera-
ture that has reported the monitoring of longitudinal
training load and fatigue and its relationship with injury
and illness. The current findings highlight disparity in the
terms used to define training load, fatigue, injury and ill-
ness, as well as a lack of investigation of fatigue and
training load interactions. Key stages of training and
competition where the athlete is at an increased risk of
injury/illness risk were identified. These included periods
of training load intensification, accumulation of training
load and acute change in load. Modifying training load
during these periods may help reduce the potential for
injury and illness.
Athlete Development Portfolio PresentationKevin Shattock
A presentation as part of Applied Conditioning for Sport module for MSc Strength & Conditioning course at the University of Salford.
Multi disciplinary approach considering nutrition, biomechanics, technical, phyio / rehab and the overall impact of S&C programming.
Postactivation potentiation in elite youth rugby players: the acute effects o...Sam Collins
This document provides an overview of a study that investigated the potentiating effects of heavy back squats, heavy front squats, and depth jumps on subsequent countermovement jump and 10m sprint performance in elite youth rugby players. Nine participants performed one of the voluntary conditioning activities and were tested on countermovement jump and sprint times at 4, 7, and 10 minutes post-activity. The depth jumps elicited the most significant potentiation for countermovement jump performance compared to the other activities. While all activities improved sprint times over the control, the heavy back squats produced the most significant results and greatest potentiation compared to the other activities.
Comparative Study on Physical Fitness of Volleyball and Football Players in U...iosrjce
Background: Physical fitness is an essential first and foremost criterion in every game. Without having physical
fitness no one can elicit his amble performance level. Therefore it is essential to investigate that in which game
among Volleyball and Football, the level of physical fitness is more essential. Aim: The purpose of this study
was to investigate the level of physical fitness of volleyball player and football player in university level.
Methodology: For the present study 15 male volleyball players and 15 male football players were selected
randomly and they had participated in university competition in 2004 from Jadavpur University. Age group of
the subjects was 18-24 years. To find out the physical fitness APHERED Youth Physical Fitness Test were
conducted. Statistics: For comparison of various physical fitness components of volley ball players and football
player independent t-test has done and level of significance has verified at 0.05 levels. Result: Finding reveals
that muscular strength of football player (5.33 times/min. pull ups) was higher than volley ball player (4.87
times/min. pull ups), the muscular endurance of football player (39.86 times sit ups) was higher than volleyball
player (38.73 times sit ups), agility of football player (19.32 sec.) was higher than volleyball player (19.78 sec.),
explosive leg strength of football player (6.90 mts.) was higher than volleyball player (6.78 mts.), Speed of
football player (6.70 sec.) was higher than volley ball player (6.99 sec.) and also cardiovascular endurance of
football player (1.82 min.) was higher than volleyball player (1.82 min.) but the difference in agility and speed
were significant at 0.05 level. Conclusion: The physical fitness of football player was higher than the volleyball
player.
Comparative Study on Physical Fitness of Volleyball and Football Players in U...
Similar to Características Antropométricas y la Ingesta Dietética de los Jugadores de la División de Honor y División de Honor B de un Club de Rugby Español
Case study for rugby athlete in rehabilitationDaniel Kapsis
This case study examined an 8-week nutritional intervention for a rugby player undergoing rehabilitation for a shoulder injury. The intervention consisted of a 3,400 kcal per day diet with high protein and carbohydrates, as well as creatine and whey protein supplements. The athlete gained 5.2 kg total, of which 4.9 kg was lean muscle mass while maintaining his body fat percentage. Arm measurements increased significantly, indicating muscle hypertrophy. The intervention successfully helped the athlete rapidly gain muscle mass during rehabilitation without increasing body fat.
This document summarizes a study that analyzed physical performance test data from 1,161 New Zealand rugby union players from 2004 to 2007 to determine differences between playing positions, levels, and years, and changes within players between competitions. The study found that props had the highest mass, body fat, and strength but slowest speeds, while outside backs had the lowest body fat and fastest speeds. Players at higher levels generally performed better than lower levels. Players improved annually in strength and repeated sprint ability. Physical performance generally decreased during professional competitions but increased when moving to higher level competitions.
EFFECTS OF HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING AND HIGH VOLUME ENDURANCE TRAINING Fernando Farias
Maximal aerobic capacity increased significantly
in both the HIIT and HVET group in
response to the 6 week training program, and the percentage improvement was
similar (7%)
in both groups.
There was no change in CMJ, CMJ flight time or 5 m speed in either group in
response to training. Compared to baseline, performance in the VJ and 20 m sprint
decreased significantly in the HVET group following the 6 week train
ing program, and did
not change in the HIIT group. Average power and peak power during the fifth and sixth
cycling test increased and the rate of fatigue decreased in the HIIT group only.
L'IJSS - Italian Journal of Sport Sciences si colloca solidamente nello spazio delle iniziative editoriali per la promozione e la diffusione dei gruppi scientifici italiani operanti nella realtà delle scienze motorie e sportive.
http://www.calzetti-mariucci.it/shop/prodotti/ijss-italian-journal-of-sport-sciences
The physical demands of professional rugby league training and competition were measured using microtechnology. Match data from 22 players showed that outside backs covered the greatest distances, while hit-up forwards and wide-running forwards experienced more collisions and repeated high-intensity efforts. Traditional conditioning, skills training, and repeated high-intensity training involved lower physical demands than matches, especially for collisions and repeated high-intensity efforts. Further research is needed to modify training activities to better match the demands of competition.
This study tested whether applying a scientifically based nutritional strategy rather than a freely chosen strategy could improve marathon performance in non-elite runners. Runners were divided into two groups - one that chose their own nutrition and one following a targeted intake of fluids, carbohydrates, sodium, and caffeine. Those following the scientific strategy completed the marathon on average 10 minutes and 55 seconds faster, representing a 4.7% improvement. Both groups experienced low levels of gastrointestinal symptoms, with no significant differences between groups. The results suggest that a scientific nutritional approach can enhance marathon performance for recreational runners compared to allowing them to choose their own intake.
Effect of Aerobic Training on Percentage of Body Fat, Total Cholesterol and H...IOSR Journals
1. The document discusses the effects of a 16-week plyometric training program on various anthropometric and biochemical variables of 10 university handball players.
2. The results showed a significant reduction in body fat percentage and improvements in lean body mass, serum urea levels, and HDL cholesterol levels. Triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels also significantly decreased after training.
3. The study concluded that plyometric training can induce beneficial changes to body composition and lipid profiles among university handball players.
This summary provides the key points from the document in 3 sentences:
The document discusses 3 studies that examined the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation combined with resistance training on muscular strength and endurance. The studies found that subjects who took creatine monohydrate supplements showed significant increases in measures of muscular strength like 1 rep max for bench press and leg press compared to placebo groups. The studies support the hypothesis that creatine supplementation increases phosphocreatine levels and ATP production, leading to greater muscular strength and endurance gains with resistance training.
This document summarizes a study on the body composition of children participating in regular football, cricket, and gymnastics training. The study aimed to compare the anthropometric and body composition status of children in these three sports. Body composition measurements including body fat percentage, fat mass, and lean mass were taken for children in each sport. Statistical analysis found that footballers had significantly lower body fat percentage and fat mass than cricketers but did not differ significantly in lean mass. Footballers also had significantly lower body fat percentage and fat mass than cricketers as well as significantly higher lean mass. Gymnasts had significantly lower body fat percentage and fat mass than cricketers but did not differ significantly in lean mass. The study concluded that footballers generally had a better body
S3379291, Tony Crawford – Oakleigh Chargers rehabTony Crawford
This document summarizes a report on the injury rehabilitation program for elite under-16 Australian rules footballers. It describes the program which included circuit training, cross training like boxing and cycling, and skill development stations. Tests were conducted on players before and after the program to assess improvement in skills like kicking, handballing, and repeat sprint ability. The results showed slight improvements but no statistically significant differences. While the program did not fully improve players' conditioning, it supported their football development with sport-specific skills training, which is important for elite junior athletes.
This study investigated the relationship between body fat percentage and physical fitness performance among 30 male basketball players aged 19-25 who participated in intervarsity games. The AAHPER test was used to measure physical fitness, while the Jackson & Pollock equation was used to determine body fat percentage. Pearson's correlation found a significant relationship between higher body fat percentage and lower physical fitness performance. This suggests that increased body fat negatively impacts athletic performance in sports requiring body movement.
Effects of Addition of Sprint, Strength and Agility Training On Cardiovascula...IOSR Journals
Abstract: To find training related physiological and cardiovascular changes and adaptations in field hockey
players, this interventional study was conducted with 30 male field hockey trainees (age: 15.7±1.55 years,
range: 13-20 years) undergoing training in preparation phase. In addition to the their usual routine of 2 hours
per day, 6 times a week of aerobic, anaerobic and skill training session of field hockey; a specialized additional
training of 2 hours per day- 3 times a week, consisting of sprint, strength-power and agility was incorporated in
the schedule. Selected variables measured before and after the 6 week training were compared with paired t
test. Upon analysis we found that lean body mass (LBM) of the participants showed significant improvement
(P<0.05)><0.05)><0.05) in the echocardiographic parameters – increase in left ventricular
posterior wall thickness, left ventricular ejection fraction; and decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume.
However when these parameters were expressed relative to LBM, no significant change was seen. Left
ventricular end-diastolic diameter and volume, body weight and body mass index too did not change
significantly after the training. This 6 week specialized additional training resulted in improvement of body
composition and cardiovascular functions of the participants, indicating favorable physiological, morphological
and functional adaptations.
Key words: field hockey; physiological adaptations; sports physiology; body composition; echocardiography;
lean body mass.
This document summarizes a study that compared the post-exercise nutrition knowledge and practices of masters (≥50 years) and younger (≤30 years) triathletes in Australia. The study found that over 40% of triathletes did not know the recommended post-exercise carbohydrate and protein intake amounts. Both groups consumed inadequate carbohydrate after exercise compared to recommendations, with masters triathletes consuming significantly less carbohydrate and energy than younger triathletes. The results suggest triathletes have poor knowledge of post-exercise nutrition guidelines and masters triathletes may not be optimizing their recovery with current intake practices.
Match analysis studies
have also demonstrated that football requires
participants to repeatedly produce maximal or
nearmaximal actions of short durationwith brief
recovery periods [40,45]. For these reasons, foot-
ball training should commonly include physical
exercises aimed to enhance both aerobic fitness
and repeated-sprint ability (RSA).
Impact of nutrition education programme on college going girls engaged in spo...Sports Journal
Sports nutrition is a marginalized area of study yet nutrition plays a major role in good sportsmanship.
Sport nutrition focuses on the link between diet, nutrients and performance. The widely separated,
irregular food intakes and the increasing use of foods with low energy concentration can lead to poor
performance. Therefore the study was planned with the main objective to impart nutrition education to
college going girls engaged in sports activity. A need felt nutrition education programme was develop
after the assessment of nutrition knowledge of the female education programme developed in which
several Information Education and Communication material was prepared like poster, chart, flash card,
leaflet/pamphlet, power point presentation, folder. The results of the anthropometric measurement
showed that majority (74%) of the selected sports female were normal weight. The study showed the
sports person lack nutrition knowledge. Nutrition education intervention improved their mean awareness
score from 7.62 to 29.42 which
Abstract
Background and purpose: Diet and muscle fiber type are all major factors in predicting intramuscular carnosine concentration [1]. Constituent substrate availability, including the amino acids L-histidine and more specifically beta alanine, play the greatest role in determining the concentration of intramuscular carnosine, a potent intracellular Hydrogen ion buffer. The purpose of this review is to analyze the efficacy of beta alanine supplementation on exercise performance, specifically activities relying on anaerobic glycolysis.
Method: The review included articles from peer-reviewed journals with sufficient data related to the purpose and focus of the study. Inclusion criteria included randomized control trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis published since 2007.
Results: Twenty relevant studies were identified; various experimental protocols were employed, including both acute and chronic effects of beta alanine supplementation on physical performance. All studies were published 2007 through 2017, providing a robust overview of experimentation over the last 10 years.
Discussion and conclusion: Among studies analyzed in this mini-review, the consensus reached regarding the efficacy of beta alanine supplementation for performance enhancement was relatively positive. Most studies followed similar supplementary strategies, consuming anywhere from 1.6 to 6.4g/day for 2 to 10 weeks. The majority of these studies demonstrated statistically significant increases in intramuscular carnosine content, a physiological parameter that is positively correlated with sprinting and power performance. Many studies presented results in support of enhanced muscular endurance performance subsequent to supplementation relative to the placebo group. Researchers also noted a decline in peak aerobic capacity concurrent to a delay in the onset of blood lactate accumulation, supporting the notion of enhanced glycolytic capacity. More research is necessary to identify optimal dosing strategies for performance optimization across the spectrum of physical activities.
Impact of Yogic Exercise on Body Fat Percentage on Middle Aged Obese PeopleSports Journal
Purpose: The Purpose of the study was to find out the effect of yogic exercises on body fat percentage of middle aged obese people.
Selection of Subjects: For the present study 20 male obese people from locality of Bilaspur were selected randomly as the subjects for the study. The age of the subjects ranged between 40-50 years.
Selection of Variables: The variables selected for the present study were yogic training (independent variable), body fat percentage (dependent variable).
Methodology: For the study pretest – post-test randomized group design, which consists of control group (10 subjects) and experimental group (10 subjects) were used. The data were collected through the pretest, before training and post-test, after six weeks of yogic exercises training.
Statistical Technique: For comparing pre and post-test means of experimental and control groups, descriptive analysis and Analysis of Co-Variance (ANCOVA) were used and the level of significance was set at 0.05 level of confidence.
Result: The result of the study showed that there was insignificant difference between pre and post-test (experimental group) of body fat percentage.
Elite adolescent Irish rugby players in the forward unit were significantly taller, heavier, and had lower countermovement jump height, triple hop distance, 150m shuttle run score, and slower 10m sprint times compared to players in the back unit. The results provide normative data on the physical characteristics of elite youth rugby players in Ireland and can help with talent identification and development.
Similar to Características Antropométricas y la Ingesta Dietética de los Jugadores de la División de Honor y División de Honor B de un Club de Rugby Español (20)
Este documento proporciona una guía sobre la conmoción cerebral en el deporte. Explica qué es una conmoción cerebral, sus causas y por qué debe tomarse en serio. Detalla los signos y síntomas de una conmoción cerebral y el protocolo de retorno gradual al deporte después de una conmoción. El objetivo es promover la seguridad de los jugadores y una adecuada gestión de las conmociones cerebrales.
Este documento describe los principios de un entrenamiento de fútbol para niños que pone al jugador en el centro de una experiencia divertida y segura, involucra a los padres de manera positiva, y enseña habilidades básicas de una manera holística, progresiva e inclusiva que prioriza el amor por el deporte sobre el aprendizaje puro del juego.
Para mantener el balón vivo, los apoyos del portador de balón (PdB) deben crear opciones de pase para evitar el contacto con los defensores. Si el PdB está agarrado pero avanza con los brazos libres, los apoyos deben intentar un offload. Si el PdB no avanza pero ve el balón libre, los apoyos deben ayudarle a liberar el balón. Sin embargo, si el PdB no avanza y el balón no es visible, los apoyos deben evitar tocarle para no formar un maul injugable y
Este documento proporciona lineamientos para el manejo de cargas para entrenadores de rugby de alto nivel. Describe los principios rectores del manejo de cargas, incluyendo sobrecarga progresiva, recuperación planificada y evitar cambios repentinos en la carga. También cubre la medición y monitoreo de la carga individual y del equipo, así como la identificación y manejo de jugadores de alto riesgo.
El Jugador Grupo intervino para detener a otro jugador que empujaba, luego preguntó al grupo durante la intervención para detener completamente la situación.
El documento describe los pasos para crear un sitio web básico utilizando HTML y CSS. Explica cómo agregar texto, imágenes, listas y enlaces hipertextuales y aplicar estilos como fuentes, colores y diseños de página usando hojas de estilo en cascada. El objetivo final es tener una página web funcional de una sola página con contenido básico y formato.
El documento habla sobre la importancia de manejar cuidadosamente la carga de contacto durante el entrenamiento de rugby para equilibrar el rendimiento y evitar lesiones. Se debe planificar y monitorear el contacto para minimizar las lesiones causadas por exceso de contacto. Los lineamientos sobre carga de contacto se basan en una encuesta a jugadores de elite y aportes de expertos, y proveen guías sobre volumen, intensidad, densidad e imprevisibilidad del contacto en el entrenamiento.
El documento presenta lineamientos para el manejo de cargas para entrenadores de rugby de alto rendimiento. Describe los principios rectores del manejo de cargas, incluyendo sobrecarga progresiva, recuperación planificada y evitar cambios repentinos en la carga. También cubre la carga general del equipo, desarrollando un programa de cargas semanales, y la carga individual, identificando jugadores de alto riesgo que requieren un manejo específico de su carga. El objetivo es reducir el riesgo de lesiones mediante la planificación y
Este documento describe un ejercicio llamado "Tocata Desequilibrios Cualitativos" que tiene como objetivo mejorar la detección de desequilibrios cualitativos entre los jugadores durante un partido de rugby. Los jugadores de cada equipo llevan petos de dos colores diferentes, y solo pueden pasarse el balón entre jugadores del mismo color del equipo contrario, lo que crea desequilibrios cualitativos basados en la velocidad y habilidad de los jugadores de diferentes colores. Los atacantes deben identificar y explotar esos desequilib
Este documento presenta la unidad didáctica "Rugby Cinta, ¿ensayamos?" para el curso de 1o de Bachillerato. La unidad consta de 7 sesiones con el objetivo de desarrollar habilidades motrices relacionadas con el rugby a través de juegos y tareas. Los alumnos aprenderán sobre pases, ataque, defensa, y fintas mediante diferentes ejercicios individuales y en equipo. La tarea final será elaborar jugadas de ataque y defensa para un campeonato de rugby cinta.
El documento habla sobre la importancia de enseñar a los deportistas a realizar acciones con la mayor velocidad y eficacia posibles. Propone una serie de ejercicios de calentamiento, velocidad, agilidad y fuerza específicos para mejorar estas cualidades y aplicarlas al rugby, incluyendo actividades de movilidad, estabilidad, fuerza, técnica de carrera, saltos y ejercicios con obstáculos. También enfatiza la necesidad de ofrecer al jugador la posibilidad de desarrollar su máxima vel
El documento describe dos tipos de desequilibrios en el rugby: 1) Desequilibrios basados en los jugadores, ya sea por número o cualidades, y 2) desequilibrios basados en la posición espacial de los equipos. También describe las fases estáticas, puntos de continuidad y objetivos de los equipos para crear un desequilibrio favorable.
Este documento describe una nueva organización defensiva para el rugby que mejora la organización a partir del ruck. Detalla que la defensa puede ganar la posesión del balón y pasar a atacar si se reorganiza adecuadamente antes de que el medio scrum abra el balón después de un ruck. El objetivo de los atacantes es anotar un ensayo mientras que el de los defensores es recuperar el balón.
El documento analiza cómo ha cambiado la forma del juego de rugby en los últimos años, con un aumento del tiempo del balón en juego, más contacto y velocidad. Muestra gráficos sobre el aumento de breakdowns y la disminución de fases estáticas, así como datos sobre la frecuencia e implicaciones de los golpes contrarios en el breakdown en diferentes competiciones.
Este documento presenta 22 escenarios de situaciones de línea de marca, lateral de marca y otras situaciones limítrofes cuyas interpretaciones reglamentarias pueden generar dudas. Cada escenario viene explicado en una página con una o más preguntas respondidas en la página siguiente, lo que permite la reflexión del lector sobre cómo aplicar las leyes del juego. El objetivo es ayudar a los árbitros a tomar decisiones en situaciones de línea limítrofe.
La defensa drift o flotante es una estrategia defensiva que se usa cuando hay menos defensores que atacantes, haciendo que los defensores se muevan juntos despacio para arrinconar a los atacantes y ganar territorio. Se organizan en células de 3 jugadores para cubrir al portador del balón, con el defensor central liderando y los laterales apoyando.
Este documento describe cómo añadir elementos de competición a los entrenamientos de fútbol para aumentar el compromiso de los jugadores, mejorar la efectividad del aprendizaje y hacer los ejercicios más divertidos. Recomienda enfrentar a equipos entre sí para competir por el tiempo, número de éxitos o puntuación obtenida en tareas como ensayos, placajes u otros ejercicios.
Este documento describe una actividad llamada "Tocata Infiltrado" que tiene como objetivo mejorar la toma de decisiones en ataques con superioridad numérica. Los jugadores deben tratar de anotar ensayos mientras evitan ser tocados por los defensores, y cuando son tocados deben trabajar el balón para que el defensor cambie de equipo y crear una ventaja temporal.
El Rugby X es un nuevo formato de rugby aprobado por World Rugby para entrenamientos que busca aumentar la intensidad. Se juega 5 contra 5 en un campo más pequeño, sin paradas de juego y con reglas simplificadas como cambios ilimitados y prohibición de patadas altas. Este formato dinámico puede introducir variaciones como límites de tiempo con el balón o número de jugadores en el ruck para desarrollar habilidades bajo gran demanda física.
This presentation is version 3 of the strategic plan for Real Bedford Football Club.
Our goals are:
1. Men's Team - To bring League Football to Bedford and ultimately get us into the Premier League.
2. Women's' Team - To bring Championship to Bedford and ultimately get us into the Women's Super League.
Euro 2024 Belgium's Rebirth the New Generation Match the Golden Era.docxEticketing.co
The Golden Group is over. Can a new group step up? Two years ago, Kevin De Bruyne plunged Belgium’s Euro 2024 plans into disorder when he claimed the team was “too old” to win in an interview with The Protector. That Belgian squad had 10 players over 30 and the maximum average age of any Euro Cup 2024 team at the competition. A group-stage exit and just one goal at the World Cup put Belgium on course for a restructure.
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Coach Domenico Tedesco has managed a tactical shakeup and a regular exit for some of the oldest players. Experienced bests remain, not least the 37-year-old Jan Vertonghen in defense, the 32-year-old De Bruyne himself in midfield, and 31-year-old Romelu Lukaku up visible.
Still, younger actors like De Bruyne’s Manchester City partner Jeremy Doku bring fresh vitality to the team. Euro Cup Germany Qualifying unbeaten with just four goals allowed from eight games was a welcome sign of accomplishment back on track under Tedesco.
The only other squad in Group E besides Belgium to UEFA Euro 2024 qualify unbeaten, Romania was awestruck by winning a group that also checked Switzerland and Israel. Still, Euro 2024 will test a squad sorely lacking in top-level skill.
Euro 2024: Belgium's Transition from Golden Generation to New Hope
Tottenham guardian Vlad Dragusin is the only Euro Cup 2024 squad member singing regularly for one of Europe’s top clubs this flavor. He even played only nine Premier League games since adoption in January. Goalkeeper Horatiu Moldovan is a stoppage at Atletico Madrid.
There’s a link to the beauty days of Romanian soccer with midfielder Ianis Hagi, son of Gheorghe Hagi, who assisted the team to the rounds of the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000.
We are only a combine of days away from the UEFA Euro 2024 curtain raiser. The 24 squads are winding up their provisions and getting ready to give it their all to life the wanted Euro Cup Final trophy on July 14. Spread across six clusters, the first hurdle in the knockout phase will be the plump of 16.
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Germany and Scotland will take things off before we get into overdrive in two weeks. Meanwhile, Belgium will be longing to bounce back after a horrendous 2022 FIFA World Cup movement, which ended in the group stage.
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Roberto Martinez completed the way for Domenico Tedesco, who has overseen a compact start to his tenure. The 38-year-old will be assured heading into the group stage
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Croatia's UEFA Euro 2024 Puzzle of Experience versus Youth.docxEuro Cup 2024 Tickets
The Netherlands kicked off their Euro Cup 2024 campaign on Sunday against Poland but will have to navigate the tournament without two pivotal players Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners
Indian Premier League (IPL) ---2024.pptxrathinikunj60
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most prominent and lucrative Twenty20 (T20) cricket leagues in the world. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has revolutionized the landscape of cricket by blending sports, entertainment, and commerce. This summary provides an overview of the IPL's history, structure, notable performances, controversies, and its impact on cricket and beyond.
History and Formation
The IPL was launched by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2008, inspired by the success of domestic T20 leagues like the English T20 Cup and the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL). Lalit Modi, the then Vice-President of BCCI, played a crucial role in conceptualizing and launching the league. The inaugural season kicked off in April 2008 with eight franchises representing different cities in India.
Structure and Format
The IPL follows a franchise-based model, where teams are owned by a mix of corporations, Bollywood stars, and other high-profile individuals. The league originally started with eight teams, although the number has fluctuated over the years due to various reasons including expansions and terminations. As of the latest seasons, the IPL features ten teams.
The tournament format includes a double round-robin stage, where each team plays the others twice, followed by playoffs. The top four teams from the round-robin stage qualify for the playoffs, which consist of two qualifiers, an eliminator, and the final. This format ensures a highly competitive and engaging tournament, culminating in a grand finale to crown the champion.
Teams and Their Evolution
The founding teams of the IPL were:
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals)
Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Deccan Chargers (now defunct, replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Over the years, the league has seen new teams such as Pune Warriors India, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Gujarat Lions, and Rising Pune Supergiant. The most recent additions are the Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, introduced in the 2022 season.
Iconic Players and Performances
The IPL has attracted the best talent from around the world, with numerous iconic players making significant contributions. Some of the standout performers include:
Sachin Tendulkar (MI): The "Little Master" brought his legendary status to the IPL, winning the Orange Cap (top run-scorer) in 2010.
Chris Gayle (RCB, KXIP): Known for his explosive batting, Gayle holds the record for the highest individual score in an IPL match (175*).
MS Dhoni (CSK): Dhoni's leadership has been instrumental in CSK's success, leading them to multiple titles.
AB de Villiers (RCB): Renowned for his innovative stroke play, de Villiers has been a consistent match-winner.
Virat Kohli (RCB): The highest run-scorer in IPL history, Kohli's batting prowess is unmatched.
La
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Características Antropométricas y la Ingesta Dietética de los Jugadores de la División de Honor y División de Honor B de un Club de Rugby Español
1. Características Antropométricas y la
Ingesta Dietética de los Jugadores de la
División de Honor y División de Honor B
de un Club de Rugby Español
Anthropometric Characteristics and the Dietary Intake of Players of
the Honor Division and Honor Division B of A Spanish Rugby Club
Maria Fernanda Gayol Flores1 y Manuel Sillero Quintana2
1Universidad Europea de Madrid. Escuela del Real Madrid
2Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte. Universidad Politécnica de
Madrid
Artículo publicado en el journal Kronos, Volumen 18, Número 1 del año 2019.
Resumen
Los objetivos del estudio son asociar las características antropométricas dependiendo de
la posición de juego y la categoría; así mismo comparar su ingesta dietética con los
requerimientos de los jugadores de un club de rugby español. Cincuenta y tres jugadores
de Rugby Unión de la División de Honor (28) y la División de Honor B (25) se sometieron
a mediciones antropométricas para estimar masa magra, grasa y muscular. También se
realizó un recordatorio de 24 horas de la ingesta dietética, todas las mediciones se
tomaron una vez. Se identificó que los jugadores de la División de Honor tuvieron valores
significativamente más altos para la edad, masa corporal, muscular (kg) y magra, esto se
debe a las adaptaciones normales relacionadas con la maduración y desarrollo. En cuanto
a la posición, encontramos un efecto significativo en la talla, masa corporal, IMC, pliegues
cutáneos, grasa corporal (%), masa muscular (%), la masa muscular (kg) y la masa
corporal magra, siendo los delanteros más altos, más pesados y con mayores cantidades
de músculo y grasa corporal, debido a las exigencias físicas de cada posición de juego.
La ingesta de energía y carbohidratos no cumplen con las recomendaciones dietéticas;
empero, la ingesta de proteínas estuvo por encima de los valores recomendados. Estos
hallazgos pueden proporcionar datos de referencia para futuras investigaciones con
jugadores de Rugby Unión por categoría y posición, así como para entrenadores,
entrenadores físicos y nutricionistas sobre la composición corporal y la ingesta dietética
de los jugadores.
Palabras clave: Profesional, élite, rugby profesional, rugby de élite, nivel de jugador, posición de juego
Abstract
This study aimed to associate the anthropometrical characteristics of the playing position
and category level and to compare their dietary intake with the requirements of a Spanish
Rugby Club. Altogether, 53 Rugby Union players of the Honor Division (28) and Honor
Division B (25) underwent measurements of standard to estimate lean mass, fat mass,
and muscle mass. A 24-hour recall of the dietary intake was also performed, all
measurements were taken once. Findings identified Honor Division players had
significantly higher values on age body mass, muscle mass (kg) and lean body mass, due
to normal adaptations related to maturation and development. Regarding the position we
2. found a significant effect on height, body mass, BMI, sum of skinfolds, body fat (%),
muscle mass (%), muscle mass (kg) and lean body mass was found, being Forwards
taller, heavier and with larger amounts of muscle and body fat due to the physical
demands of each playing position. The energy and carbohydrates intake fail to fulfill the
dietary recommendation; however, protein intake was above the recommended values.
These findings may provide reference data for future research with Rugby Union players
by level and position, as well as for trainers, physical trainers, and nutritionists on the body
composition and dietary intake of the players.
Keywords: Professional, elite, professional rugby, elite rugby, player´s level, playing position
INTRODUCTION
Rugby is a contact team sport that is characterized by high-intensity interval training
(Heffernan et al., 2016; Sedeaud et al., 2012). There are passive and active periods like
running, speeding, tackle, and collision and also low-intensity aerobic periods and rest
(Carling, Lacome, Flanagan, O’Doherty, & Piscione, 2017; Cunningham et al., 2016; Jones
et al., 2015). The total distance covered in a match can go from 4000 to 8000m, this
depends on the position, and it can go up to 1000m in high-speed distances (Till,
Scantlebury, & Jones, 2017).
A Rugby Union (RU) match last 80 minutes divided in two halves (Suarez Moreno-Arrones,
Portillo, & J.M., 2014), the RU team consists of 15 players that have different playing
position and are divided into two main groups: “Forwards” including loose-head prop,
hooker, thigh-head prop, locks, blind-side flanker, open-side flanker and number 8 and
“Backs” including scrum half, fly half, left wing, inside center, outside center, right wing,
and full back (Heffernan et al., 2016). Previous articles have observed differences in
aerobic capacity and motor activity depending on the playing position, including the linear
speed, agility in the change of position, muscular strength, and muscular power (Carling et
al., 2017; Heffernan et al., 2016). Backs cover a more significant portion of the field by
passing plays, longer sprints, and maintaining the clack line (Gamazo, 2014). As a
consequence, Backs are expected to display greater endurance capacity (Nakamura,
Pereira, Moraes, & Kobal, 2017), and because of that, they spent 58% of the time running
while Forwards only spent 13%. Male competition in Spain is divided into three national
categories: Honor Division, Honor Division B and First National, described by the highest
category order.
Given the physical contact nature of the game, the physical characteristics are considered
important for performance, which is why significant differences in height, weight, and
composition of the body mass have been observed depending on the playing position
(Gabbett, 2006; Till, Tester, et al., 2017). Higher values of weight, height, and skinfolds
have been observed in Forwards. These anthropometrical characteristics have been
suggested to provide a protective role for tackles and collisions, while Backs have shown
smaller body size that facilitates speed and high-intensity activities. Da Cruz-Ferreira &
Ribeiro (2013) studied a group of Portuguese Rugby players and reported that Forwards
were on average, heavier (96.1 vs. 86.9 kg) and taller (1.80 vs. 1.75 m) than Backs. The
mean of the sum of the nine skinfolds was equally significantly lower for the Backs (129.1
vs. 189.9 mm) than for Forwards, which is going to interpret as a fat mass percentage of
15.7% (±5.10) and 21.2% (±7.69) respectively. In another study in which they observed the
anthropometric characteristics during five years, it was reported that the sum of seven
skinfolds was higher for Forwards than Backs (84 vs. 60mm) (Duthie, Pyne, Hopkins,
Livingstone, & Hooper, 2006).
The daily nutritional intake of any athlete should meet the energy, macronutrients and
micronutrients requirements to have the fuel for training at high-intensity, to promote
optimal recovery after a competition, and for the general health and wellbeing of the
athlete. Given that there is no gold standard tool to assess energy intake, the choice of
3. method depends on the population to measure (Bradley, Cavanagh, Douglas, Donovan,
Twist, et al., 2015). Twenty-four-hour recall is easy to administer and does not require too
much time, so this won´t be a burden to the subject. Being a retrospective method, the
subject´s usual intake is not altered, and they are a useful tool when working with
professional players (Castell, Serra-Majem, & Ribas-Barba, 2015). They have also shown
to be useful in measuring the energy intake of a team, given that increasing the number of
subjects measured decreases the variability and that simple methods for assessing a
group mean dietary intake is more accurate then weighted dietary intakes (Sawaya et al.,
1996).
While the carbohydrate recommendation of energy should be 6 – 10 g/kg (Burke, Hawley,
Wong, & Jeukendrup, 2011), in recent years, many Rugby players have adopted a lower
intake of CHO to maintain or reduce the body fat. The low intake of CHO during training
and competition could affect the amount of blood glucose and hepatic glycogen. Bradley et
al. (2015) reported that Forwards and Backs had a lower CHO consumption than
recommended (3.30 ±0.70 and 4.10 ±0.40 g/kg, respectively). To promote muscle protein
synthesis and to diminish muscle protein breakdown, it is essential to consume an
adequate intake of protein. Daily protein recommendations for individuals in resistance
training exercise lean towards a range of 1.2 – 2.0 g/kg/day. Evidence suggests that many
Rugby athletes consume protein above the recommendations up to 2.7 g/kg/day (Bradley,
Cavanagh, Douglas, Donovan, Morton, et al., 2015; MacKenzie-Shalders, Byrne, Slater, &
King, 2015; MacKenzie-Shalders, King, Byrne, & Slater, 2016).
Rugby Union players usually train 3 to 5 days a week and some of them play in one 80-
minute competitive match per week. To complete the nutritional requirements, it is
essential to understand the total energy expenditure. Some studies have attempted to
quantify the energy expenditure in Rugby players, but due to the characteristics of the
game, there are some limitations. Bradley et al. (2015) used the SenseWear Pro2
technology to assess the energy expenditure of the players, determining that the energy
expenditure is 3343 – 3821 kcal a day. In another study published by (Zanetti, Pumpa, W,
& Pyner, 2014) estimated using the SenseWear an energy expenditure of 1.10 kcal·min-1
during exercise and 0.8 kcal·min-1 post-exercise. Using the gold standard Doubly Labeled
Water technique, food diaries and Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) (Morehen et al., 2016)
suggested an energy expenditure of 5374 kcal a day for the Rugby player. The most used
prediction equations validated in athletic populations to estimate RMR (Cunningham et al.,
2016) considering that the specific energy expenditure of the activity for Rugby and other
similar sports corresponds to an intensity of 6.30 METS for non-competitive and 8.30
METS for competitive practice (Ainsworth et al., 2011).
To our awareness, comparisons between playing position and the competition category
are still lacking. In addition, to date, no studies are comparing the nutritional intake in
between position and the correlation of the diet and body composition. Therefore, the aims
of this research are 1) to associate the anthropometrical characteristics of Rugby Union
players in Spain according to their playing position (Forwards and Backs) and playing level
(Honor Division and Honor Division B); and 2) to compare the dietary intake with the
dietary requirements and the correlation between the anthropometric characteristics and
the dietary intake.
METHODS
Participants and study design
Fifty-three Rugby union players currently playing in a Spanish elite club (Age: 25.2 ± 5.07
yrs, range 18 – 36 yrs; Height: 1.82 ± 0.07 m; Weight: 92.8 ± 13.9 kg) volunteered in this
study. Participants belong to two different teams; Honor Division (HD; n=28) and Honor
4. Division B (HDB; n=25). Players were categorized into two position groups based on the
international standard: HD (15 Forwards, 13 Backs) and HDB (13 Forwards, 12 Backs).
The protocol complied with the ethics of the local laws. All participants received a clear
explanation of the study before signing the written consent. Those players who for some
reason could not attend the scheduled data collection did not complete the 24-hour recall
and/or declined to participate in this study were excluded.
Procedure
This is a descriptive observational study as a previous step of a future intervention (pre-
post) study. All data were collected in a room closed to the playing field where players
attended once in a specific date; four scheduled appointments were conducted in a day
one hour before the training session. Research was conducted during the second half of
the competitive period (Figure 1).
Players performed 2-hrs of training including field and strength training three days per
week on average. Seventy-five percent of the HD and 80% of the HDB workout for 2-hrs in
an individual training session in the gym twice a week.
Figure 1. Procedure method diagram
Anthropometry
The athletes were weighted wearing only shorts using a calibrated digital scale (TANITA,
Illinois USA) to the nearest 0.1 kg, and height was measured using a wall stadiometer
(SECA, Birmingham UK). As an estimate of body fat, skinfold thickness was measured at
eight sites (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraespinale, abdominal, front thigh,
medial calf) of the right side of the body using a calibrated skinfold caliper (Harpenden,
West Sussex UK). The anthropometric measurements were in accordance with standard
protocols of the International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK, 2011)
and were recorded by a level 1 accredited anthropometrist. Skinfold thicknesses were
measured to the nearest 0.1 mm and the mean of 2 measurements was taken. Data were
reported as the sum of 8 sites, although the body fat was calculated using the Faulkner
equation. For skeletal muscle mass, the calculation used was the Lee equation since it is
the recommended by the anthropometry working group (GREC) of the Spanish Federation
of Sports Medicine (Alvero Cruz et al., 2009). Body girths were measured with a flexible
steel tape (TAQ, Ciudad de México, MX) on the arm relaxed, arm flexed and tensed, wrist,
5. waist, gluteal (hips), calf and mid-thigh, and the biepicondylar humerus breadths were also
measured using a bone caliper (Futrex, USA).
Dietary recall
A 24-hour recall was used to assess energy consumption, and macronutrient composition
of the dietary intake of the athletes by a nutritionist on the same appointment scheduled
after measurements were taken (Castell et al., 2015). Players were interviewed and asked
to recall their nutritional intake over a typical training day. Specific details were requested
by the nutritionist to obtain the type of food and its characteristics: presentation (fresh,
precooked, frozen), net quantity consumed, the method of preparation, commercial
brands, and dressings. The macronutrient and energy intake was calculated using the
Mexican System of Equivalent Food “Sistema Mexicano de Alimentos Equivalentes”(Pérez
Lizaur, Palacios Gónzales, Castro Vecerra, & Flores Galicia, 2008). To asses energy
expenditure we used the Cunningham equation to determine the resting metabolic rate
(Tinsley, Graybeal, & Moore, 2018), to determine the calories used for training the
metabolic equivalents (METs) for Rugby Union Team were used for each hour of training
(Ainsworth et al., 2011).
Statistical analyses
Statistical tests were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
(SPSS Version 23.0.0 IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Chicago IL, USA). All data were
initially checked for normality using a Kolmogorov-Smirnov and for equality of variance
using a Levene´s test. Initially, all data was assessed for descriptive statistics expressing
the data as average ± standard deviation (SD). Subsequently, differences between HD and
HDB and between Forwards and Backs were analyzed using a two-way mixed design
analysis of variance ANOVA (category x player position). If any significant F values were
observed, a Tukey post hoc test was performed to determine significant differences
between groups. An alpha value of p≤0.05 was set for all tests. Pearson correlation (r)
analyses were conducted to determine linear relationships between the anthropometric
characteristics and the dietary intake classifying the correlation values.
RESULTS
Table 1 presents the mean ± standard derivation (SD) of the anthropometric characteristics
of the rugby players according to their position and player level.
Table 1 . Anthropometric characteristics
1, 2 = differences between Honor Division and Honor Division B (p<0.05)
F, B = differences between Forwards and Backs (p<0.05)
Values are mean ± SE.
6. Category might contribute on the anthropometrical characteristics on the rugby players,
but that effect might differ across position. Players on the HD category showed a
significant effect on age (F (1, 49) = 5.04, p <0.029), body mass (F(1, 49) = 10.74, p
<0.002), kg of muscle mass (F(1, 49) = 16.2, p <0.001) and lean body mass, (F(1, 49) =
17.9, p <0.001). Concerning the position we found a significant effect on height (F(1, 49) =
11.7, p <0.001), body mass (F(1, 49) = 39.9, p <0.001), BMI (F(1, 49) = 20.6, p <0.001),
sum of skinfolds (F(1, 49) = 8.28, p <0.006), body fat percentage (F(1, 49) = 11.2, p
<0.002), muscle mass in kilograms (F(1, 49) = 6.80, p <0.012) and lean body mass (F(1,
49) = 39.3, p <0.001), since forwards had higher results and only found significant
difference where backs has higher data in muscle mass percentage (F(1, 49) = 18.7, p
<0.001). The interaction of shared category and playing position was significant for muscle
mass in kilograms (F(1, 49) = 4.59, p <0.037) (Table 1).
Table 2 presents the mean ± standard derivation (SD) for dietary qualities of the diet that
include total kcal, percentage of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, in addition
carbohydrate and protein expressed in grams per kilogram of body mass obtained by the
24-hour recall for HD Forwards, HD Backs, HDB Forwards and HDB Backs.
Table 2. Dietary Intake, from the 24-hour recall
1, 2 = differences between Honor Division and Honor Division B (p<0.05)
F, B = differences between Forwards and Backs (p<0.05)
Values are mean ± SE.
The average estimated energy expenditure was 4879 ± 570 kcal·day and measured
dietary energy intake was 2647 ± 739 kcal·day. Findings identified that players on the HD
category had a significant effect on the total calories intake (F (1, 49) = 7.68, p <0.008)
(Table 2).
Associations between anthropometric and dietary intake are presented in Table 3. Body
mass showed a moderate correlation with carbohydrate (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) (r =
-0.37, p = 0.006**; r = -0.29. p = 0.031*). BMI was small correlated to the lipids (%)
consume in the diet (r = 0.27, p = 0.044*), moderate correlation with carbohydrate (g/kg)
and protein (g/kg) (r = -0.46, p = 0.001**; r = -0.30, p = 0.026*). The sum of the skinfolds
showed a moderate correlation with carbohydrate (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) and lipids (%) (r
= -0.43, p = 0.001**; r = -0.44. p = 0.001**; r = 0.39, p = 0.003**). The body fat percentage
wad moderate correlation with carbohydrate (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) and lipids (%)) (r =
-0.48, p = 0.001**; r = -0.44. p = 0.001**; r = 0.40, p = 0.003**). Muscle mass percentage
was moderate correlation with carbohydrate (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) and lipids (%) (r =
0.39, p = 0.004**; r = 0.35. p = 0.010*; r = -0.41, p = 0.002**). Lean body mass had a small
correlation with de carbohydrate (g/kg) (r = -0.29, p = 0.037*).
7. Table 3. Significant associations (Pearson coefficient) between anthropometric and dietary
intake
CHO: carbohydrates, P: proteins, L: lipids, BMI: body mass index, LBM: lean body mass
Associations between anthropometric and dietary intake for each category are presented
in table 4. The HD category intake of carbohydrates (g/kg) showed a strong correlation
with body mass (r = -0.48, p = 0.009**), BMI (r =,-0.64 p = 0**), sum of the skinfolds (r =
-0.48, p = 0.009**), body fat percentage (r = -0.59, p = 0.001**) and a moderate correlation
with lean body mass (r = -0.40, p = 0.034*). The HDB category intake of lipids (%) showed
a moderate correlation with body mass (r = 0.45, p = 0.023*), sum of the skinfolds (r =
0.49, p = 0.011*), body fat percentage (r = 0.48 p = 0.014*) and with muscle mass (r =
-0.44, p = 0.026*) and a strong correlation with BMI (r = 0.54, p = 0.006**). The protein (g/
kg) intake showed a moderate correlation with body mass (r = -0.48, p = 0.015*), BMI (r =
-0.48, p = 0.0015*), muscle mass (r = 0.40, p = 0.045*) and lean body mass (r = 0.41, p =
0.043*), while they showed a strong correlation with sum of the skinfolds (r = -0.53, p =
0.006**) and body fat percentage (r = -0.52, p = 0.007**).
Table 4. Significant associations (Pearson coefficient) between anthropometric and dietary
intake by category
CHO: carbohydrates, P: proteins, L: lipids, BMI: Body Mass Index, LBM: lean body mass
8. DISCUSSION
Anthropometric characteristics differ extensively among Rugby players. The variability
depends on the category of the team, the positional role and the intake and quality of the
diet (Till, Tester, et al., 2017). This study was designed to compare the anthropometric
characteristics of rugby players according to their playing level (HD and HDB) and their
playing position (Backs and Forwards) and to compare the dietary intake to the dietary
recommendation. The results of this study suggest that there are some differences in the
anthropometric characteristics in between categories and in between playing position.
The players at HD tend to be older, had a greater body mass, skeletal muscle (kg) and
lean body mass, this is due to normal adaptations related to maturation and development
and it is consistent with previous research (Sedeaud et al., 2012; Till, Tester, et al., 2017).
The development of lean body mass is essential to increase speed, strength and
consequently power, the higher the category this will become of greater importance.
(Sedeaud et al., 2012).
The most common comparison of the anthropometric characteristics of Rugby players is
between the Forwards and the Backs given the specific tasks of each position, since
Forwards spend significantly more time tackling and in contact phases than Backs (García
et al., 2014; Sedeaud et al., 2012). Consistently with previous published works, the
present study found that Forwards were taller, heavier, and had greater skinfold thickness
than Backs (Da Cruz-Ferreira & Ribeiro, 2013; Gabbett, 2006; Morehen, Routledge, Twist,
Morton, & Close, 2015; Till, Tester, et al., 2017). While greater skinfold thickness proposes
to be a shielding role against the high number of high-speed physical collision received by
Forwards (Gabbett, 2006), in contrast Backs have lower body mass and body fat and so
they can maximize their acceleration and velocity capacity to be able to gain advantage in
the unmarking, dribbling and ending of plays, as an advantage they can sustain
continuous and prolonged efforts in the ball despite in static and dynamic phase (Da Cruz-
Ferreira & Ribeiro, 2013). Optimum skinfold size and body fat percentage scores for each
Rugby player is unknown, and it may be appropriate to individually control body fat levels,
with four site skinfold recommended at approximately 30 mm in Backs and 40 mm in
Forwards (Till, Tester, et al., 2017).
Although a greater skinfold could be a protective characteristic for collision for the
forwards, this thickness also indicates a higher body fat, and this may also increase the
aerobic demands required to maintain high-intensity activities during an 80 min match, and
reduce the ability to dissipate heat during the activity (Gabbett, 2006), the acceleration and
the metabolic efficiency (Jones et al., 2015). To consider the body fat as a predictive tool in
Rugby players further investigations should be made, as it may be beneficial for collision
but it could also have a negative in the performance, since intramuscular fatty infiltration
has been identified as a contributor to declining strength and mobility, independently of
muscle size (Robles et al., 2015).
A more considerable amount of lean mass could allow a higher amount of force
production. Considering that Forwards are required to produce high amounts of force in
the collisions (Jones et al., 2015), it makes sense that the study found a greater amount of
lean body mass and skeletal muscle in Forwards than in Backs. Those results agree with
findings from other studies in literature (Jones et al., 2015; La Monica et al., 2016;
Morehen et al., 2015).
While the BMI (Body Mass Index) is not considered a valid indicator of body composition
of athletes in high competition as a surrogated measure of adiposity (García et al., 2014),
in our study, we consider it to estimate the greatness of the body mass. BMI on Forwards
and Backs increased significantly in the Rugby World Cups between 1987 (29 and 25
kg*m2) and 2007 (31 and 27 kg*m2). This can be explained by increases in training load
between those years (Sedeaud et al., 2012). Our findings for the HD category were similar
9. to the ones described by García and collaborators (2014) with average BMI values of 30.6
and 26.9 kg*m2 for Forwards and Backwards of HD respectively, while for the HDB the
BMI was lower with values of 28.4 and 24.4 kg*m2 for Forwards and Backwards.
Such findings again suggest that anthropometry cannot be used on its own for player
selection and it should always be viewed alongside other key performance indicators
(Morehen et al., 2016). Body mass is another crucial variable for Rugby players, and we
suggest that it is better to have high values of body weight with a high lean mass instead
of fat mass, because a high value of fat mass may be an extra load in locomotion and
jumping. Given this information, the nutritional plan may play an essential role in the
training of these players. In countries with a long Rugby tradition, body composition and
diet are considered a fundamental part of subsequent success or failure in the sport
(García et al., 2014). Meeting the optimal nutrition intake will be beneficial to fuel the
training and competitions and to promote optimal recovery, and for general health.
The players in the present study failed to meet the current recommendations of an
adequate diet. The analysis of the 24-hour recall revealed that the energy intakes in a
typical training day were only 2647.53 ± 739.69 kcal in total. This data meet only 54.74%
of the energy recommendations. For the HD team, the energy intake was 2809 ± 812
(57.1%) and 3008 ± 807 kcal (60.1%) for Forwards and Backs, respectively; and for the
HDB team, the energy intake was 2471 ± 602 (51.3%) and 2247 ± 493 kcal (51.5%) for
Forwards and Backs, respectively. This data is under the previously estimated for elite
Rugby union players as were values of 3537 and 3179 kcal for Forwards and Backs,
respectively (Ainsworth et al., 2011). It cannot be left out that the relatively low energy
intake observed in the present study could be related to the fact that energy intake was
assessed using a 24-hour recall. However, all players reported that the day described as a
“typical”, so it is possible that the players in the present study may have intentionally or
unintentionally underreported the total energy intake (Bradley, Cavanagh, Douglas,
Donovan, Morton, et al., 2015) or they had avoided the snacks even when they were
requested to include all the food and drink ingested in the considered 24 hours.
In future research, it would be also interesting to measure in a more objective way the
energy intake of the Rugby players to ensure that the current dietary practices are
adequate for physiological health. It would be also interesting to develop a prediction
equation more suitable for athletes with high muscle mass (Bradley, Cavanagh, Douglas,
Donovan, Morton, et al., 2015; Morehen et al., 2016).
Recent guidelines clearly state that CHO intake must meet the athletes training goals.
Burke et al. (2011) stated values of 6 – 10 g/kg for athletes engaged in moderate to high-
intensity exercise lasting 1 - 3 hours. Therefore, the participants of this study, as in
previous studies, failed to meet the daily recommended CHO requirements (Bradley,
Cavanagh, Douglas, Donovan, Morton, et al., 2015; MacKenzie, Slater, King, & Byrne,
2015), we can observed a higher intake for the HD consuming (3.28 ±1.12g/kg) for Backs
and (2.47 ±1.3g/kg) for Forwards, while the participants of the HDB had a lower intake of
CHO for Backs (2.77 ± 1.08g/kg) and Forwards (2.49 ±0.89 g/kg). However, since Rugby
players have a vast amount of body mass and the recommendations are given in grams
per kilogram of body mass, this recommendation may be too high for Rugby players
(Bradley, Cavanagh, Douglas, Donovan, Morton, et al., 2015).
The protein consumption data in the present study suggest an over-consumption of 2.04 ±
0.77 g/kg for both teams, while we can observe the higher intake for the Backs in the HD
(2.39 ± 1.03 g/kg) and the lowest intake of protein for the Forwards in HDB (1.83 ± 0.80 g/
kg). The observed results are considerably higher than the guidelines for strength
dedicated athletes (1.5 – 1.7 g/kg) and also for endurance dedicated athletes (1.2 – 1.6 g/
kg) (Burke, 2010). However, previous studies have also seen similar protein consumption
up to 2.7 g/kg (Bradley, Cavanagh, Douglas, Donovan, Twist, et al., 2015; MacKenzie et
al., 2015). Nevertheless, this amount of protein may be beneficial to stimulate muscle
10. protein synthesis or to maintain the amount of muscle mass for the Rugby players
(Bradley, Cavanagh, Douglas, Donovan, Morton, et al., 2015; MacKenzie et al., 2015),
since we found a positive correlation between the protein intake and the muscle mass and
a negative correlation with the body fat percentage.
Carbohydrates may be also beneficial for the muscle growth and maintaining the body fat
percentage lower, since we also found a correlation in the HD with intake of carbohydrates
and body composition, given that, they had higher intake than the HDB and the BMI and
lean body mass were greater, and the body fat was lower.
Finally, future research should be carried out on a larger sample in an attempt to establish
an anthropometric profile for the different position groups and categories of RU. We
recommend performing more than a 24-hour recall to increase the accuracy of the data.
In conclusion, this study report that there were significant differences by category for age,
body mass and muscle mass, suggesting that these changes are due to maturation, body
size and the number of training hours for HD. Considering the position of the player,
Forwards tended to be taller, heavier and to have more copious amounts of muscle mass
and body fat, probably due to the physiological demands of the game. Regarding the
dietary intake, we report that energy protein and carbohydrates intake did not reach the
dietary recommendations, suggesting that the 24-hour recall could underestimate the
intake and also that the current recommendations overestimate the kcal intake, due to the
high values of the body mass. These findings may provide reference data for Rugby union
players by playing team and category.
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