ABSTRACT
Introduction: This exploratory study aimed to assess the relationship between athlete neuromuscular performance and rugby performance indicators. Specifically, the study looked at the force-velocity profiles (FVPs) derived from four common resistance exercises and their relationship with rugby performance indicators (RPIs). Methods: The study recruited twenty-two semi-professional male rugby players (body mass 102.5 ± 12.6 kg, height 1.85 ± 0.74 m, age 24.4 ± 3.4 years) consisting of ten backs and twelve forwards. Prior to the first game of a Covid-impacted nine-match season, participants performed four common resistance exercises (barbell box squat, jammer push-press, sled pull, and sled push) at incremental loads to establish force-velocity profiles. During the season, rugby performance indicators (post-contact metres, tries, turnovers conceded, tackles, try assists, metres ran, defenders beaten, and tackle breaks) were collated from two trusted sources by a performance analyst. Correlational analyses were used to determine the relationship between the results of FVPs and RPIs. Results: The study found a statistically significant, moderate, positive correlation between tackle-breaks and sled push V 0 (r = .35, p = .048). Significant, large, positive correlations were also found between tackles and jammer push-press V 0 (r = .53, p = .049) and tackle-breaks and sled pull F 0 (r = .53, p = .03). There was a significant, negative relationship between sled pull V 0 and tackle-breaks (r = -.49, p = .04). However, the largest, significant correlation reported was between metres ran and sled pull F 0 (r = .66, p = .03). Conclusion: The study suggests that a relationship may exist between FVPs of particular exercises and RPIs, but further research is required to confirm this. Specifically, the results suggest that horizontal resistance training may be best to enhance RPIs (tackle-breaks, tackles, and metres ran). The study also found that maximal power was not related to any rugby performance indicator, which suggests that a specified prescription of either force or velocity dominant exercises to enhance RPIs may be warranted.
ABSTRACT
Agility is an important skill for both attackers and defenders in invasion sports such as codes of football. On the sporting field, agility requires reacting to a stimulus, often presented by an opponent's movement, before a change of direction or speed. There is a plethora of research that examines the movement component of agility in isolation, which is described as change-of-direction (COD) ability, and this is thought to underpin agility performance. This opinion article proposes that COD ability should not be researched as the only or primary outcome measure when the objective is to inform agility performance in invasion sports. It is argued that pre-planned COD movements and tests lack ecological validity because they lack perception-action coupling and involve movement out of context from the game. The movement techniques and strength qualities required for the performance of COD tests can be quite different to those required for agility. It is suggested that COD tests can be applied to sports that involve pre-planned COD movements, but researchers should endeavour to use agility tests when studying invasion sports. Some new methods for assessing one-on-one agility contests are reported as potentially valuable for future research, and examples of research questions are provided.
