The Effects of an In-Season of Concurrent Training on the Maintenance of Maximal Strength and Power in Professional and College-Aged Rugby League Football Players

Abstract

Fourteen professional (NRL) and 15 college-aged (SRL) rugby league players were observed during a lengthy in-season period to monitor the possible interfering effects of concurrent resistance and energy-system conditioning on maximum strength and power levels. All subjects performed concurrent training aimed at increasing strength, power, speed, and energy-system fitness, as well as skill and team practice sessions, before and during the in-season period. The SRL group significantly improved 1 repetition maximum bench press (1RM BP) strength, but not bench throw (BT Pmax) or jump squat maximum power (JS Pmax) over their 19-week in-season. The results for the NRL group remained unchanged in all tests across their 29-week in-season. The fact that no reductions in any tests for either group occurred may be due to the prioritization, sequencing, and timing of training sessions, as well as the overall periodization of the total training volume. Having athletes better conditioned to perform concurrent training may also aid in reducing the possible interfering effects of concurrent training. Correlations between changes in 1RM BP and BT Pmax suggest differences in the mechanisms to increase power between stronger, more experienced and less strong and experienced athletes.