Contact Team Sports Research Articles

The point prevalence of South African male soccer players' injuries in the Gauteng province.

The ever-evolving game of soccer is a complex physical contact team sport, exposing its participants to injury. To identify the point prevalence of soccer injuries among young amateur, semi-professional, and professional South African male soccer players. The participation of male amateur (n=54), semiprofessional (n=34), and professional (n=57) players provided a cross-sectional overview of the nature of the most predominant types and anatomical sites of injuries affecting soccer players (average age 23.9±4.7 years). All participants completed the Fuller soccer injury questionnaire, ISAK somatotype profiling and knee flexion/extension isokinetic concentric peak torque (Nm) evaluations at 60°/s. Fifty per cent of the players sustained soccer injuries (X 2=0.9). Knee (20%) and ankle (19%) were the most vulnerable sites (X 2=0.00001). Knee-injured players' right quadriceps torque (199±37 vs 223±38 Nm) and percentage right quadriceps torque relative to body mass (286±54 vs 311 ±39%) was significantly weaker than the non-injured players (p<0.01). The injured players' right hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q) torque ratio further significantly differed from the non-injured players' H/Q torque ratios (79±17 vs 70±9%) (p<0.01). Male soccer players experience neuromusculoskeletal injuries, with their knees and ankles being the most vulnerable. Knee-injured players had weaker quadriceps isokinetic strength than non-injured players.

The Significance of Off-Season Tailor-Made Baseline Measurements in the Assessment of Post-Concussion in University Athletes.

This study aimed to investigate the significance of baseline measurements for amateur team athletes playing contact and collision team sports with a specific focus on the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) to improve concussion management. Symptoms of sports-related concussions (SRCs) can be diverse and long-lasting and include cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, and vestibular dysfunction. Therefore, comprehensive baseline data are essential to preventing recurrent concussions and secondary injuries. This study was conducted during the 2023 off-season and evaluated the baseline condition of 65 male university rugby players using the SCAT5, which includes self-reported symptoms, and the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS). The athletes were assessed for the presence or absence of SRC, and the mean values were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Among the participants, 35.38% (23/65) reported symptoms, with an average of 1.5 ± 2.8 symptoms per player and an average symptom score of 2.66 ± 5.93. In the mBESS, no errors were observed in the tandem stance test; however, 72.31% (47/65) made errors in the single-leg stance test on the non-dominant foot, with an average of 1.7 ± 1.5 errors. Many athletes self-reported symptoms and balance errors, even during asymptomatic periods before experiencing concussion, indicating unresolved issues. In the injury history survey, the baseline evaluations and injury histories of the participants classified into the SRC and non-SRC groups were compared. In the mBESS single-leg stance test (non-dominant foot), 84.21% (32/38) of the SRC group participants made errors, with an average score of 2.13 ± 1.52, whereas 55.55% (15/27) of the non-SRC group participants made errors, with an average score of 1.15 ± 1.35, showing a significant difference (p = 0.007). Additionally, significant differences were observed in the average number of ankle sprains (p = 0.027) and fractures (p = 0.048) between patients with and without a history of SRC. These findings indicate that athletes may have underlying issues even during normal periods before concussion. Moreover, the results highlighted the impact of previous concussions on motor control and injury risk. This underscores the importance of preseason baseline measurements using the SCAT to identify at-risk athletes and implement preventive measures. These findings align with the recommendations of the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport and suggest further refinement of concussion assessment tools.

Incidence of respiratory infections and SARS-CoV-2 is higher during contact phases in student rugby players – Lessons learnt from COVID-19 risk mitigation strategies–AWARE V

The incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARinf), including SARS-CoV-2, in unvaccinated student rugby players during phases from complete lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic to returning to competition is unknown. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of ARinf (including SARS-CoV-2) during non-contact and contact phases during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate risk mitigation strategies. In this retrospective cohort study, 319 top tier rugby players from 17 universities completed an online questionnaire. ARinf was reported during 4 phases over 14 months (April 2020–May 2021): phase 1 (individual training), phase 2 (non-contact team training), phase 3 (contact team training) and phase 4 (competition). Incidence (per 1 000 player days) and Incidence Ratio (IR) for ‘All ARinf’, and subgroups (SARS-CoV-2; ‘Other ARinf’) are reported. Selected factors associated with ARinf were also explored. The incidence of ‘All ARinf’ (0.31) was significantly higher for SARS-CoV-2 (0.23) vs. ‘Other ARinf’ (0.08) (p ​< ​0.01). The incidence of ‘All ARinf’ (IR ​= ​3.6; p ​< ​0.01) and SARS-CoV-2 (IR ​= ​4.2; p ​< ​0.01) infection was significantly higher during contact (phases 3 ​+ ​4) compared with non-contact (phases 1 ​+ ​2). Demographics, level of sport, co-morbidities, allergies, influenza vaccination, injuries and lifestyle habits were not associated with ARinf incidence. In student rugby, contact phases are associated with a 3–4 times higher incidence of ARinf/SARS-CoV-2 compared to non-contact phases. Infection risk mitigation strategies in the contact sport setting are important. Data from this study serve as a platform to which future research on incidence of ARinf in athletes within contact team sports, can be compared.

Quantifying Offense and Defense Workloads in Professional Rugby Union.

Rugby union is a contact team sport demanding high levels of physical capacity, and understanding the match workloads can be useful to inform training. In this study, the factors influencing locomotion and contact workloads for offensive and defensive ball-in-play periods are quantified. Locomotion and contact metrics were collected from global positioning system units and videos for 31 professional players of a Super Rugby team across 14 games in the 2021 season. Data were analyzed with a generalized mixed-model procedure that included effects for type of play, playing position, match outcome, and ball-in-play time. Magnitudes were assessed with standardization, and evidence for substantial magnitudes was derived from sampling uncertainty. When offense was compared to defense, most metrics showed decisively substantial increases (smalltomoderate) for forwards and backs. There was decisive evidence that locomotion metrics were substantially lower (large differences) and contact metrics were higher (very large differences) when comparing forwards to backs on offense and defense. When winning was compared to losing, there was good evidence that forwards experienced small increases in overall workload on defense, and backs experienced a small increase in high-speed running and a moderate decrease in contacts on offense. Match-to-match changes associated with ball-in-play time, attributed to fatigue, were decisive (moderatetovery large) across most metrics for forwards and backs in offense and defense. The increased locomotion and contact workloads in offensive periods and the differing physical requirements between positions and match outcomes for both types of play are novel findings that should aid practitioners in designing effective training.

Gender Differences in Cognitive Functions of Youth Water Polo Players

Water polo (WP) as a highly demanding contact team sport, requires from players to have well developed cognitive functions, similar as in other team sports. Following same rules for females and males it is important to realize differences between them, which may contribute to their sports success and help coaches to develop adequate training models. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare cognitive functions between female and male youth WP players. There were 36 female (25%) and 106 male (75%) youth WP players aged 12 to 14 years enrolled in this study. Variables measured included anthropometric indices, specific functional swimming capacities and cognitive functions testings using the Stroop test. Females showed better psychomotor speed (Stroop Off) (females 61.79±6.79 s vs. males 64.83±8.31 s, p=0.048) and response inhibition (Stroop On) (females 73.44±10.74 s vs. males 78.67±14.82 s, p=0.025) than males. Female youth WP players showed better results in psychomotor speed, inhibitory control and motor speed compared to males, taking both age and gender into account. Such differences might be of interest for coaches in WP, as well as in different sports to help them develop appropriate training strategies for each athlete.

Injury Incidence, Outcomes, and Return to Competition Times after Sports-Related Concussions during One Professional Ice Hockey Season: A Prospective Cohort Study.

The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence and characteristics of sports-related concussions (SRCs) for a professional ice hockey team during one regular season in the International Central European Hockey League. Repeated concussions are a common cause of long periods of absence in team contact sports, with a wide range of potential short- and long-term consequences for the affected athlete. Questions mainly regarding early diagnosis and ideal follow-up treatment remain unanswered, especially regarding the timing of return to sports (RTS). A prospective data analysis for a professional ice hockey team during a regular season was conducted. Firstly, concussions per 1000 athlete exposure (AE) and average time loss due to SRC were calculated. Secondly, the data from ImPACT Applications were analyzed for those players who were diagnosed with an SRC. Five SRCs were evaluated during the regular season, which resulted in 1.35 concussions/1000 AEs, a maximum of 17 missed games, and a median of three games per SRC. The average symptom count was 9.6, with the most common symptoms being headache, sensitivity to light, and dizziness. SRCs sustained in professional ice hockey are a common in-competition injury, while practices play a subsidiary role. The duration of RTS is highly individual and can be associated with symptoms lasting days to months.

Pain Perception in Contact Sport Athletes: A Scoping Review.

Contact sports athletes are regularly facing acute physical pain in part of their sport; however, the literature investigating pain perception in these athletes remains scarce. This scoping review aimed to explore the literature surrounding pain perception in contact sport athletes and to compile and understand how it is studied. The search strategy consisted of using index terms and keywords in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global search engines. Results from 11 studies revealed that a mix of team contact sports and combat sports are studied and are included under the umbrella of contact sports. These athletes are being compared with non-athletes as well as athletes from non-contact sports. The cold pressor test and the pain pressure test are the two predominant methods used to investigate physical pain. This review highlights the need to clearly define sports based on contact levels expected in play to better define the types of pain athletes are facing in their practice. Athletes' level of play as well as years of experience should also be more rigorously reported. While contact sport athletes seem to have a higher level of pain tolerance than both active controls and non-contact athletes, themethods of pain testing are not always justified and appropriate in relation to the pain induced during contact sports. Future experimental studies should use pain testing methods relevant to the pain experienced during contact sports and to better justify the rationale for the choice of these methods.

The Influence of Physical Contact on Athlete Load in International Female Rugby Sevens.

Epp-Stobbe, A, Tsai, M-C, Morris, C, and Klimstra, M. The influence of physical contact on athlete load in international female rugby sevens. J Strength Cond Res 37(2): 383-387, 2023-Although self-reported rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is a simple and popular metric for monitoring player loads, this holistic measure may not adequately represent the distinct contributing factors to athlete loading in team sports, such as contact load. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the relationship between the number of contacts experienced and playing time on RPE in elite women's rugby sevens athletes during competition. Additionally, we examine the contribution of the number of contacts and playing time to RPE. The data collected included RPE, playing time, and number of contacts from 1 team participating in 74 international women's sevens matches. The relationship was modeled using multiple linear regression. Results, including the coefficients for the number of contacts and playing time, were significant (p < 0.001), and R2adjusted was 0.3063. Because contacts are accounted for within the measure of RPE in the proposed model, this further supports the value of RPE as a global measure of athlete experience. However, this study has found a different relationship between RPE and playing time dependent on the number of contacts, such that the influence of playing time on RPE decreases as the number of contacts increase. Ultimately, this may mean that the weighting of individual salient factors affecting player loads, such as the number of contacts or playing time, depend on the levels of all known and potentially unknown factors experienced and may limit the use of RPE when contextualizing player load across athletes. Taken together, the findings suggest that the number of contacts, playing time, and RPE should be considered when monitoring athlete loads while further substantiating the need for more, and higher resolution, measures to better quantify competition loads in contact team sports.

Long-term effects of multiple concussions on prefrontal cortex oxygenation during neurovascular coupling activation in retired male contact sport athletes.

This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of multiple concussions on prefrontal cortex oxygenation during a neurovascular coupling activating task using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Self-reported physically active males who previously participated in contact team sports at various levels of competition and who previously had experienced at least 3 concussions (n=55; mTBI) or had no history of concussions (n=29; CTRL) were recruited. Participants completed a 5min "Where's Waldo" object identification protocol which consisted of participants closing their eyes for 20-s followed by 40-s (repeated 5 times over 5-min) of searching a computer screen for "Waldo" hidden in a field of distractors. NIRS (μM) was used to measure right and left prefrontal cortex cerebral oxygenation. Oxygenated (O2Hb), deoxygenated (HHb), total (tHb) haemoglobin, and haemoglobin difference (HbDiff) were analysed through the change in average maximal and minimal values (ΔMAX), Z-scores, and standard deviations. There were no significant differences in the relative change in cerebral oxygenation of the right prefrontal cortex between groups. In mTBI, left prefrontal cortex HHb ΔMAX (p=0.031) and tHb ΔMAX (p=0.044) were significantly lower than in the CTRL group. Within-group, right vs. left prefrontal cortex differences showed significantly lower values in left HbDiff Z-scores (p=0.019) in only the mTBI group while the CTRL group showed significantly lower values in left HbDiff SD (p=0.045). This preliminary study suggests that there are changes in prefrontal cortex oxygenation in males who had a history of experiencing multiple concussions in their past during a neurovascular coupling activating task. These changes may represent potential long-term effects in the brain's ability to adapt cerebral oxygenation during increased neural activity.

Eye tracking to assess concussions: an intra-rater reliability study with healthy youth and adult athletes of selected contact and collision team sports.

Eye movements that are dependent on cognition hold promise in assessing sports-related concussions but research on reliability of eye tracking measurements in athletic cohorts is very limited. This observational test-retest study aimed to establish whether eye tracking technology is a reliable tool for assessing sports-related concussions in youth and adult athletes partaking in contact and collision team sports. Forty-three youth (15.4 ± 2.2years) and 27 adult (22.2 ± 2.9years) Rugby Union and soccer players completed the study. Eye movements were recorded using SMIRED250mobile while participants completed a test battery twice, with a 1-week interval that included self-paced saccade (SPS), fixation stability, memory-guided sequence (MGS), smooth pursuit (SP), and antisaccades (AS) tasks. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), measurement error (SEM) and smallest real difference (SRD) were calculated for 47 variables. Seventeen variables achieved an ICC > 0.50. In the adults, saccade count in SPS had good reliability (ICC = 0.86, SRD = 146.6 saccades). In the youth, the average blink duration in MGS had excellent reliability (ICC = 0.99, SRD = 59.4ms); directional errors in AS tasks and gain of diagonal SP had good reliability (ICC = 0.78 and 0.77, SRD = 25.3 and 395.1%, respectively). Four metrics were found in this study to be reliable candidates for further biomarker validity research in contact and collision sport cohorts. Many variables failed to present a sufficient level of robustness for a practical diagnostic tool; possibly, because athletic cohorts have higher homogeneity, along with latent adverse effects of undetected concussions and repetitive head impacts. Since reliability of a measure can influence type II error, effect sizes, and confidence intervals, it is strongly advocated to conduct dedicated reliability evaluations prior to any validity studies.

Different Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Exercise Indexes and Mood States Based on Sport Types, Exercise Dependency and Individual Characteristics.

Exercise indexes have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its related restrictions among athletes. In the present study, we investigated the exercise frequency and intensity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also current exercise dependency and mood state among non-contact individual, contact individual, and team sports athletes. A total of 1353 athletes from non-contact individual sports athletes (NCISA), contact individual sports athletes (CISA) and team sport athletes (TSA) participated; 45.4% of them were females that completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, former and current exercise patterns, exercise dependency and mood states. NCISA had less exercise frequency than CISA, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and NCISA had less exercise frequency than TSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding exercise intensity, CISA had higher scores than NCISA and TSA before the COVID-19 pandemic, and CISA had more exercise intensity than TSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequency and intensity were reduced from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic in the three groups, except for TSA intensity. In addition, positive and negative mood states were correlated with exercise dependency. CISA were more discouraged and vigorous than NCISA and TSA, respectively. For NCISA, CISA, and TSA, ordinal regressions separately showed that adherence to quarantine and exercise dependency were better predictors of exercise indexes. Finally, exercise dependency subscales were different among sports, but it was not in exercise dependency itself. Although the decrease in exercise indexes was noticeable, there was no consistent pattern of change in exercise behavior in all sports. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, negative moods were predominant among all athletes. The results discussed are based on exercise nonparticipating, sport type, and affect regulation hypothesis.

The impact of birth order on behavior in contact team sports: Evidence of rugby teams.

Fil: Delbianco, Fernando Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Bahia Blanca. Instituto de Matematica Bahia Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Matematica. Instituto de Matematica Bahia Blanca; Argentina

The relationship between depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, and concussion history with poor sleep in collegiate athletes

ObjectiveOngoing exploration of factors related to poor sleep in collegiate athletes is important as understanding of the risks and consequences of poor sleep in this specific population increases. DesignRetrospective cohort study. SettingUniversity in the Pacific Northwest. ParticipantsOne-hundred thirty-seven male and female collegiate athletes across 5 collision, contact, and limited contact team sports. MeasurementsDepressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire 9; PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder 7; GAD-7), and somatic complaints (Patient Health Questionnaire 15; PHQ-15). Sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI) used both a cutoff score ≥6 and a cutoff score of ≥8, indicating "poor sleep quality" to reduce threats to divergent validity. ResultsPoor sleep quality as defined by PSQI ≥ 6 was present in 53% of athletes, and as defined by PSQI ≥ 8 was identified in 33.5% of the cohort. There were no differences in the incidence of poor sleepers between sport, race/ethnicity, or sex. Multiple regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, Caucasian race, male sex, and number of concussions were significant predictors of poor sleep (P < .05). The model accounted for 43% of the variance in PSQI and primarily by depressive symptoms explaining 9% of reported sleep quality variability. Anxiety symptoms, sport category, and history of migraines were not significant predictors of poor sleep quality. ConclusionsA high incidence of poor sleep among collegiate athletes was observed regardless of sport, and may be related to depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, Caucasian race, male sex, and historical number of concussions.

Monitoring and load management in team handball

The monitoring of athletes has become a focus in elite-level team sports and research in recent years. The goal is to optimise load management for maximising performance. Due to the considerable amount of data gathered during monitoring in team sports, the trend is towards integrating different monitoring methods in a software-based tool. In addition, decision-support systems are used in order to enable coaches to make quick decisions to control further burdens. This article is intended to give an overview of the large number of monitoring methods used in contact team sports, to consider their test quality criteria and to check a useful application of monitoring methods for team handball, taking into account the sports-specific requirements. PubMed-based review of the literature. Narrative review focusing on current data from the years 2010 to 2019. Demands on athletes in elite team handball vary depending on the playing position. Therefore, individualised load control is necessary. Monitoring methods with proven validity and reliability should ideally be used in a multivariate approach to represent the various aspects of external and internal load, recovery and fatigue, well-being and readiness. It is important to know the meaningful change for each athlete while using a monitoring method. This circumstance necessitates an individualised approach for each parameter. There are not many studies on the use of monitoring methods in team handball, neither in the amateur field nor in an elite sports environment. Nevertheless, based on evidence from other contact team sports, a recommendation for a combined use of monitoring methods can be given. Burden, time and cost/benefit should always be considered. There is a considerable need for research regarding the use of athlete monitoring in team handball. The combination of monitoring methods proposed in this article can be used as a framework for studies with handball players in an elite sports environment in order to implement an increasingly handball-specific monitoring concept in the future.

Cumulative Sport-Related Injuries and Longer Term Impact in Retired Male Elite- and Amateur-Level Rugby Code Athletes and Non-contact Athletes: A Retrospective Study

BackgroundRugby union and rugby league are popular team contact sports, but they bring a high risk of injury. Although previous studies have reported injury occurrence across one or several seasons, none have explored the total number of injuries sustained across an entire career. As the first to do so, the aim of this study was to report on cumulative injuries and their perceived long-term impact in retired rugby code athletes compared to athletes from non-contact sports.MethodsOne hundred and eighty-nine former rugby code athletes (rugby union n = 145; rugby league n = 44) and 65 former non-contact athletes were recruited to the UK Rugby Health Project between September 2016 and December 2018. Details on sports participation, sports injuries and concussion history, sports injury-related surgeries, and previous and current health were obtained from a validated, online self-report questionnaire.ResultsFormer elite rugby code athletes (n = 83) reported more total injuries per player (median 39, IQR 35) than former amateur rugby code athletes (n = 106; median 23, IQR 30; p = 0.014) and non-contact sports athletes (n = 65; median 7.5, IQR 15; p < 0.001). Concussion was the most frequently reported injury for the elite and amateur rugby code groups, followed by upper/lower back and knee ligament injuries. These injuries also presented with the highest recurrence. Rugby code groups reported a higher continued impact of previous concussion, neck injuries, shoulder dislocation, ACL tears, and knee ligament injuries (p = 0.003–0.045). The reported prevalence of osteoarthritis was more than twofold greater in the elite rugby code group than in non-contact athletes (51% v 22%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of back pain and/or severe and regular joint pain was high across all groups (47–80%), particularly the elite rugby code group. The total number of joint injuries and sport injury-related surgeries was higher in those who reported current osteoarthritis and current severe and regular joint pain (p < 0.001–p = 0.028).ConclusionAcross multiple injury types, past participation in rugby union and rugby league, particularly at elite level, is associated with a high cumulative injury load and a continued impact of previous injuries post-retirement. Given the high number of reported concussions (and their recurrence) and associations between previous injuries during a player’s career and current musculoskeletal conditions, efforts should be prioritized to reduce the occurrence and recurrence of injuries in rugby codes at all levels of the sport. Strategies should also be developed for supporting the specific physical health needs of rugby code athletes post-retirement.

Physical activity practice and sports preferences in a group of Spanish schoolchildren depending on sex and parental care: a gender perspective

BackgroundPhysical activity plays an important role in the maintenance of health, and it is especially important during childhood. However, the lack of information about differences in physical activity practice and sports preferences of children considering gender differences can result in non-effective policies that enhance inequalities between sexes. The aim of this study is to identify the sports preferences of Spanish schoolchildren and their physical activity practice behaviors depending on their sex and their parental care, analyzing the possible differences from a gender perspective.MethodThree hundred sixty-four Spanish schoolchildren (179 girls, 185 boys) participated in this cross-sectional study. A daily physical activity questionnaire was used to evaluate physical activity level (PAL), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sports preferences and a socio-health questionnaire were used to collect data about parental care. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and applying Student’s T-test for normal variables, Mann-Whitney U-test for non-parametrical variables, and chi-square (χ2) test for categorical variables. Subsequently, odds ratios were used to analyze associations between the physical activity practice of the children and parental care.ResultsPAL and time spent in MVPA was significantly lower for girls compared to boys (1.44 ± 0.07 vs. 1.46 ± 0.07, p < 0.001 and 0.74 ± 0.40 h/day vs. 0.90 ± 0.45 h/day; p < 0.001, respectively). Dancing, rhythmic gymnastics, skating, and water sports were practiced more by girls, while football, wrestling sports, handball, and racket sports were practiced more by boys (p < 0.05). Children cared for by their fathers had higher odds for physical activity practice (OR = 1.995 (1.202–3.310), p = 0.008).ConclusionPhysical activity among girls was less frequent and less intense. Girls opted for individual sports with artistic connotations, while boys often practiced more team contact sports. Furthermore, children are more physically actives when their father is in charge of them.

Design and Implementation of Rugby Tackle Technology Assisted Training System Based on Somatosensory Capture

Rugby is a highly challenging and spectator contact team sport with intense physical confrontation, specific technique, and group tactics, which requires athletes have tenacious will, courage and teamwork. “Tackle” is an essential feature of rugby which is the smallest action unit of body contact and confrontation between the offensive and defensive players during match. Tackling ability is not only a demonstration of personal skills, courage, and experience, but also the base of tacitly cooperating with other teammates in helpful defense which a well-trained part of team needed. For rugby beginners’ tackle training, this study designs and implements rugby tackle technology assisted training system based on somatosensory capture to help beginners master rugby tackle correctly and effectively during single or double training so that beginners could complete the confrontation exercises from simple to difficult.

Rugby World Cup 2019 injury surveillance study.

Full contact team sports, such as rugby union, have high incidences of injury. Injury surveillance studies underpin player welfare programmes in rugby union. To determine the incidence, severity, nature and causes of injuries sustained during the Rugby World Cup 2019. A prospective, whole population study following the definitions and procedures recommended in the consensus statement for epidemiologic studies in rugby union. Output measures included players' age (years), stature (cm), body mass (kg), playing position, and group-level incidence (injuries/1000 player-hours), severity (days-absence), injury burden (days absence/1000 player-hours), location (%), type (%) and inciting event (%) of injuries. Overall incidences of injury were 79.4 match injuries/1000 player-match-hours (95% CI: 67.4 to 93.6) and 1.5 training injuries/1000 player-training-hours (95% CI: 1.0 to 2.3). The overall mean severity of injury was 28.9 (95% CI: 20.0 to 37.8) days absence during matches and 14.8 (95% CI: 4.1 to 25.5) days absence during training. The most common locations and types of match injuries were head/face (22.4%), posterior thigh (12.6%), ligament sprain (21.7%) and muscle strain (20.3%); the ankle (24.0%), posterior thigh (16.0%), muscle strain (44.0%) and ligament sprain (16.0%) were the most common locations and types of injuries during training. Tackling (28.7%), collisions (16.9%) and running (16.9%) were responsible for most match injuries and non-contact (36.0%) and contact (32.0%) rugby skills activities for training injuries. The incidence, severity, nature and inciting events associated with match and training injuries at Rugby World Cup 2019 were similar to those reported for Rugby World Cups 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Training and match volume and injury in adolescents playing multiple contact team sports: A prospective cohort study.

Training and competition loads have emerged as valuable injury risk factors but very few studies have explored injury outcomes in adolescent athletes. The aims of this study were to describe injuries and to explore the relationship between training and match load volumes and injury in adolescent athletes participating in multiple contact team sports. One hundred and three male youth rugby athletes aged 14-16years from 8 rugby union teams were prospectively monitored during a season for weekly training and match volumes and injuries. The relationship between volume and injury was explored by comparing the weekly volume in the week prior to an injury vs weeks without injury. There were 83 time-loss injuries in 58 athletes (62%). Overall injury incidence was 18.5 per 1000 player-hours. Mean weekly injury prevalence was 27% (95% CI 25-30). Average weekly volume was 5.4 (2.2) hours comprising 1.4 (1) match hours and 4 (2.6) training hours. Compared with weeks without injury, weeks prior to an injury had higher match volumes (110 [57] min vs 83 [59] min, P<0.001). Poisson regression demonstrated that match volume was a predictor of injury with an odds ratio of 1.41 (P=0.001). The contribution of match volumes to injury risk and the relatively high injury burden in these athletes may be profound. Very high match volumes are unlikely to be in the best interests of young athletes and could be avoided with a systematic approach to load management and athlete development.

Modelling Movement Energetics Using Global Positioning System Devices in Contact Team Sports: Limitations and Solutions.

Quantifying the training and competition loads of players in contact team sports can be performed in a variety of ways, including kinematic, perceptual, heart rate or biochemical monitoring methods. Whilst these approaches provide data relevant for team sports practitioners and athletes, their application to a contact team sport setting can sometimes be challenging or illogical. Furthermore, these methods can generate large fragmented datasets, do not provide a single global measure of training load and cannot adequately quantify all key elements of performance in contact team sports. A previous attempt to address these limitations via the estimation of metabolic energy demand (global energy measurement) has been criticised for its inability to fully quantify the energetic costs of team sports, particularly during collisions. This is despite the seemingly unintentional misapplication of the model's principles to settings outside of its intended use. There are other hindrances to the application of such models, which are discussed herein, such as the data-handling procedures of Global Position System manufacturers and the unrealistic expectations of end users. Nevertheless, we propose an alternative energetic approach, based on Global Positioning System-derived data, to improve the assessment of mechanical load in contact team sports. We present a framework for the estimation of mechanical work performed during locomotor and contact events with the capacity to globally quantify the work done during training and matches.