Tackle Outcomes Research Articles

‘Playing catch-up’: safety and optimal tackle outcomes in women’s rugby union (PhD Academy Award)

‘Playing catch-up’: safety and optimal tackle outcomes in women’s rugby union (PhD Academy Award)

Predicting Rugby League Tackle Outcomes Using Strength and Power Principal Components.

Tackling is a fundamental skill in collision sports such as rugby league. Given the complexity of tackling and multitude of strength and power variables available for analysis, this study aimed to predict tackle outcomes in professional rugby league based on strength and power principal components (PCs). Twenty-eight rugby league players participated in this study. Maximal strength was assessed via 1 repetition maximum on the back squat, bench press, and bench pull. Lower-body vertical and horizontal power were evaluated using a countermovement jump and standing broad jump. A postmatch analysis of 5 National Rugby League matches was conducted to examine tackling outcomes. PC analysis was performed on the strength and power assessments. The first PCs were retained in each analysis, and a series of Spearman rank-order correlations were conducted between the tackle outcomes and the retained PCs. The PCs significantly related to tackle outcomes were included in the multiple regression analyses to estimate their effect on tackle outcomes. Strength PC was a significant predictor of play-the-ball speed in attack, accounting for 54% of the variance. Countermovement jump PC was a significant predictor of postcontact meters, explaining 19% of the variance. These findings demonstrate that a range of tackle outcomes may be predicted from strength and power components. The coaching staff may choose to develop programs and testing designed to focus on these components, which may further develop players' tackle outcomes during competition.

Tackle technique knowledge alone does not translate to proper tackle technique execution in training

ObjectivesEffective tackle technique is associated with reduced injury risks and improved performance in contact. Injury prevention programmes aim to provide players with knowledge of effective technique. However, little is known...

The Relationship Between Match Tackle Outcomes and Muscular Strength and Power in Professional Rugby League.

Redman, KJ, Wade, L, Whitley, R, Connick, MJ, Kelly, VG, and Beckman, EM. The relationship between match tackle outcomes and muscular strength and power in professional rugby league. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2853-2861, 2022-Tackling is a fundamental skill in collision sports, such as rugby league. Match success is largely dependent on a player's ability to complete tackles and tolerate physical collisions. High levels of strength and power are key physical qualities necessary for effective tackling because players are required to generate large forces while pushing and pulling their opponents. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between tackle outcomes and strength and power qualities in professional rugby league. Fourteen rugby league players participated in this study. Maximal strength was assessed through 1 repetition maximum on the back squat, bench press, and bench pull. Lower-body vertical and horizontal powers were evaluated using a countermovement jump and standing broad jump (SBJ), respectively. Upper-body power was assessed on a plyometric push-up (PPU). Postmatch analysis of 5 National Rugby League matches was conducted to examine tackling outcomes. A series of Spearman's rank-order correlations were used to assess the relationship among match tackle outcomes and strength and power variables. Significant associations were observed between play-the-ball speed and SBJ peak power (rs = -0.74, p = 0.003), postcontact metres and PPU peak power (rs = 0.77, p = 0.002), losing the play-the-ball contest in defence with SBJ distance (rs = 0.70, p = 0.006), and ineffective tackles with PPU concentric impulse (rs = 0.70, p = 0.007). These results suggest the development and maintenance of full-body power to enhance the likelihood of positive tackle outcomes during professional rugby league match-play.

Rugby league ball carrier injuries: The relative importance of tackle characteristics during the European Super League

Rugby league carries a high injury incidence with 61% of injuries occurring at tackles. The ball carrier has a higher injury incidence than the defender, therefore understanding mechanisms occurring during injurious tackles are important. Given the dynamic, open nature of tackling, characteristics influencing tackle outcome likely encompass complex networks of dependencies. This study aims to identify important classifying characteristics of the tackle related to ball carrier injurious and non-injurious events in rugby league and identify the characteristics capability to correctly classify those events. Forty-one ball carrier injuries were identified and 205 matched non-injurious tackles were identified as controls. Each case and control were analysed retrospectively through video analysis. Random forest models were built to (1) filter tackle characteristics possessing relative importance for classifying tackles resulting in injurious/non-injurious outcomes and (2) determine sensitivity and specificity of tackle characteristics to classify injurious and non-injurious events. Six characteristics were identified to possess relative importance to classify injurious tackles. This included ‘tackler twisted ball carrier’s legs when legs were planted on ground’, ‘the tackler and ball carrier collide heads’, ‘the tackler used body weight to tackle ball carrier’, ‘the tackler has obvious control of the ball carrier’ ‘the tackler was approaching tackle sub-maximally’ and ‘tackler’s arms were below shoulder level, elbows were flexed’. The study identified tackle characteristics that can be modified in attempt to reduce injury. Additional injury data are needed to establish relationship networks of characteristics and analyse specific injuries. Sensitivity and specificity results of the random forest were 0.995 and 0.525.

Technical determinants of tackle and ruck performance in International Rugby Sevens

Rugby Sevens (‘Sevens’) is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. This growth was marked by the inclusion of the sport in the Olympic Games in 2016. The most frequently occurring contact events in Sevens are the tackle and ruck. Performing specific techniques during these contact events can reduce the risk of injury and increase the likelihood of success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the technical determinants associated with tackle and ruck performance outcomes in Sevens. A total of 4799 tackles and 1405 rucks from the 2014/2015 HSBC Sevens World Series were coded for contact, post-contact, ruck, match contextual variables and outcomes. Relative risk ratio (RR), the ratio of the probability of an outcome occurring when a variable was observed, was determined using multinomial logistic regression. A moderate ball-carrier leg drive reduced the probability of losing possession by 25% (RR 0.75, 95% CI, 0.58–0.97, p < .05). Conversely, ball-carriers had a 53% higher likelihood of losing possession when the tackler executed a moderate leg drive (RR 1.53, 95% CI, 1.09–2.14, p ≤ .05). Maintaining possession at the ruck was more likely to occur when committing one attacker compared to two (RR 0.31, 95% CI, 0.19–0.49, p < .001). Active ball-carrier placement also increased the likelihood of maintaining possession at the ruck (RR 14.67, 95% CI, 9.55–22.56, p < .001). Sevens coaches and trainers can now positively design evidence-based technical training programmes and emphasise specific tackle techniques in training using data from Sevens video analysis. Also, given that this is the first study to relate tackle technical determinants to an outcome (i.e. the first ‘how’ study) in Sevens, this work provides the foundation for similar Sevens video analysis studies in the future.

Tackle characteristics and outcomes in match-play rugby league: the relationship with tackle ability and physical qualities

ABSTRACTPurpose: This study examined tackle characteristics and their relationships with match-play tackle outcomes, tackling ability, and physical qualities in rugby league players.Methods: Fifteen rugby league matches were analysed, with the tackle characteristics and outcomes of 2355 tackle events coded. Muscle strength and power tests, and a standardized assessment of tackling ability were performed in 16 players.Results: Medium body position, utilizing a shoulder or smother tackles, and producing leg drive upon contact decreased the odds of a missed tackle. Performing a front-on tackle, with a contact zone at the chest region reduced the odds of an offload. Tackling ability was significantly related to defenders moving forward prior to contact (rs = 0.60, 95% CI 0.15–0.85, P = 0.02), front-on tackles (rs = 0.53, 95% CI 0.05–0.81, P = 0.04), and displaying medium body height (rs = 0.57, 95% CI 0.10–0.83, P = 0.02) in match-play tackles. Lower-body strength was significantly related to defenders exhibiting a medium body position (rs = 0.60, 95% CI 0.15–0.85, P = 0.01) and the ball-carrier being placed on their back (rs = 0.72, 95% CI 0.35–0.90, P = 0.002).Conclusion: The findings suggest that match-play tackle performance is related to both tackle characteristics and physical qualities.

The Relationship Between Playing Situation, Defence and Tackle Technique in Rugby Union

Although it is known that both technical and tactical proficiency are required for success in rugby, not much is known about the interaction of these two characteristics and their association with success. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between defence and tackle technique, and its association with tackle success, in the context of the playing situation. Tackle contact events (n=763) from the 2010 Super 14 rugby tournament were coded based on playing situation, defensive characteristics, tackle technique and tackle outcome. Then the relative risk ratio (RRR) was determined for each variable in relation to the tackle outcome. Technical characteristics associated with tackle success included head position of tackler (RRR 0.46, p=0.01), type of tackle (RRR 0.58, p&lt;0.001) and tackler leg drive (RRR 0.43, p&lt;0.05). In the relationship between technique and tactical components of the tackle (i.e., defence), tackle techniques proved to be more associated with tackle performance than defence. However, this is not to say that defensive strategies are not important when defending.

Tackler characteristics associated with tackle performance in rugby union

Tackling is an important skill for performance in rugby, yet little has been reported on tackler characteristics and its relationship to performance in competition. The aim of this study was to identify tackler characteristics and its association with tackle performance in matches. Eighteen matches of the 2010 Super 14 were analysed, which amounted to 2092 coded tackles. Tackler characteristics such as head position – in motion, up and forward, type of tackle – shoulder tackler, arm tackle or ball-carrier fend – absent, moderate, strong and leg drive–absent, moderate, strong or shoulder usage were coded and associated with tackle outcomes. Relative risk ratio (RRR), the ratio of the probability of an outcome occurring when a characteristic was observed (versus the non-observed characteristic) was determined using multinomial logistic regression. Having the head in motion decreased the tackler's chances of a successful tackle (RRR 2.24, 95% CI 1.72–2.92, p < 0.001) relative to an up and forward head position. Ball-carriers using a fend significantly decreased the tackler's probability of success (moderate fend RRR 2.97, 95% CI 2.04–4.31, p < 0.001). Moderate leg drive (RRR 0.36, 95% CI 0.26–0.50, p < 0.001) by the tackler increased the likelihood of tackle success. Head up and forward, counter-acting the ball-carrier fend, shoulder tackles targeted at the ball-carrier mid-torso, using the arms to wrap or pull, and leg driving were key tackler characteristics associated with positive tackle outcome in matches. Based on these findings, it is recommended that these technical characteristics are emphasised and incorporated into training to effectively prepare tacklers for competition.

Characteristics of an ‘effective’ tackle outcome in Six Nations rugby

Rugby is a full contact sport that frequently comprises of tackle situations between two or more players. At present there is no research available that has quantified the defining elements that lead to ‘effective’ tackle outcomes in matches or whether they factor in the success or failure of teams. The purpose of this study was to understand the actions of the tackler during contact with the ball-carrier and relate them to the ‘effectiveness’ of the tackle outcome, during rugby match play. Matches (n=15) from the 2007 Six Nations Tournament were analysed. ‘Effective’ tackling was assessed with regards to the territorial change of the ball-carrier from the point of contact with the tackler to completion of the tackle, and characterised in terms of the tackler's body position, the angle at which the tackler approached the tackle and the outcome. The ‘less effective’ tackle is 34% more prevalent (P<0.001) than the ‘effective’ tackle during match play. Winning teams were involved in fewer tackle situations and made 3% more ‘effective’ tackles and 4% fewer ‘less effective’ tackles than losing teams. ‘Effective’ tackle outcomes were found to have a greater percentage of the player's torso leaning forward and oblique angle approaches to the ball-carrier. The difference in the frequency of upright and back foot characteristics differentiated winning from losing teams. This was the first study to describe the characteristics of an ‘effective’ tackle outcome and serves as a basis from which further research can be done on the tackle situation.

Changes in practice task constraints shape decision-making behaviours of team games players

ObjectivesThis study examined the effects of manipulating relative positioning between defenders (initial distance apart) on emergent decision-making and actions in a 1 vs. 2 rugby union performance sub-phase. DesignTwelve experienced youth players performed 80 trials of a 1 (attacker) vs. 2 (defenders) practice task in which the starting distance between defenders was systematically decreased. MethodsMovement displacement trajectories of participants were video recorded to obtain 2D positional data. The independent variable was the starting distance between defenders and dependent variables were: (i) performance outcome (try or tackle), (ii) mean speed of all players during performance, and (iii), time between the first crossover and the end of the trial. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the effects of different starting distances on performance. ResultsShorter starting distances between defenders were associated with a higher frequency of effective tackle outcomes, lower mean speeds of all participants, and a greater time period between the first crossover and the end of the trial. ConclusionsDecision-making behaviours emerged as a function of changes in participants’ spatial location during performance. This observation supports the importance of manipulating key spatial-temporal variables in designing representative practice task constraints that induce functional player-environment interactions in team sports training.