Title |
The physical characteristics of match-play in English schoolboy and academy rugby union
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Published in |
Journal of Sports Sciences, May 2017
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DOI | 10.1080/02640414.2017.1329546 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Dale B. Read, Ben Jones, Padraic J. Phibbs, Gregory A. B. Roe, Joshua Darrall-Jones, Jonathon J. S. Weakley, Kevin Till |
Abstract |
The aim was to compare the physical characteristics of under-18 academy and schoolboy rugby union competition by position (forwards and backs). Using a microsensor unit, match characteristics were recorded in 66 players. Locomotor characteristics were assessed by maximum sprint speed (MSS) and total, walking, jogging, striding and sprinting distances. The slow component (<2 m · s(-1)) of PlayerLoad(TM) (PLslow), which is the accumulated accelerations from the three axes of movement, was analysed as a measure of low-speed activity (e.g., rucking). A linear mixed-model was assessed with magnitude-based inferences. Academy forwards and backs almost certainly and very likely covered greater total distance than school forwards and backs. Academy players from both positions were also very likely to cover greater jogging distances. Academy backs were very likely to accumulate greater PLslow and the academy forwards a likely greater sprinting distance than school players in their respective positions. The MSS, total, walking and sprinting distances were greater in backs (likely-almost certainly), while forwards accumulated greater PLslow (almost certainly) and jogging distance (very likely). The results suggest that academy-standard rugby better prepares players to progress to senior competition compared to schoolboy rugby. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 29 | 45% |
Ireland | 3 | 5% |
United States | 2 | 3% |
Brazil | 1 | 2% |
Spain | 1 | 2% |
South Africa | 1 | 2% |
United Arab Emirates | 1 | 2% |
Canada | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 25 | 39% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 47 | 73% |
Scientists | 13 | 20% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 3% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 1 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 92 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 18 | 20% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 14 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 10 | 11% |
Student > Postgraduate | 6 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 5% |
Other | 12 | 13% |
Unknown | 27 | 29% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Sports and Recreations | 39 | 42% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 5 | 5% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 3% |
Social Sciences | 3 | 3% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 2% |
Other | 7 | 8% |
Unknown | 33 | 36% |