Training injuries in elite men's senior and academy (Super League) rugby league; an analysis of 224,000 exposure-hours.

OBJECTIVES: Report two-years of training injury data in senior and academy professional rugby league. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Match and training time-loss injuries and exposure data were recorded from two-seasons of the European Super League competition. Eleven/12 (2021) and 12/12 (2022) senior and 8/12 (2021) and 12/12 (2022) academy teams participated. Training injuries are described in detail and overall match injuries referred to for comparison only. RESULTS: 224,000 training exposure hours were recorded with 293 injuries at the senior (mean [95 % confidence interval]; 3 [2-3] per 1000 h) and 268 academy level (2 [2-3] per 1000 h), accounting for 31 % and 40 % of all injuries (i.e., matches and training). The severity of training injuries (senior: 35 [30-39], academy: 36 [30-42] days-lost) was similar to match injuries. Lower-limb injuries had the greatest injury incidence at both levels (senior: 1.85 [1.61-2.12], academy: 1.28 [1.08-1.51] per 1000 h). Head injuries at the academy level had greater severity (35 [25-45] vs. 18 [12-14] days-lost; p < 0.01) and burden (17 [16-18] vs. 4 [4-5] days-lost per 1000 h; p = 0.02) than senior level. At the senior level, the incidence of contact injuries was lower than non-contact injuries (risk ratio: 0.29 [0.09-0.88], p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Training injuries accounted for about a third of injuries, with similar injury severity to match-play. Within training there is a higher rate of non-contact vs. contact injuries. Whilst current injury prevention interventions target matches, these data highlight the importance of collecting high quality training injury data to develop and evaluate injury prevention strategies in training.

Embracing the impact from instrumented mouthguards (iMGs): A survey of iMG managers' perceptions of staff and player interest into the technology, data and barriers to use.

Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) are a novel technology being used within rugby to quantify head acceleration events. Understanding practitioners' perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to their use is important to support implementation and adoption. This study assessed men's and women's rugby union and league iMG managers' perceptions of staff and player interest in the technology, data and barriers to use. Forty-six iMG managers (men's rugby union and league n = 20 and n = 9 and women's rugby union and league n = 7 and n = 10) completed an 18-question survey. Perceived interest in data varied across staff roles with medical staff being reported as having the most interest. The iMG devices were perceived as easy to use but uncomfortable. Several uses of data were identified, including medical applications, player monitoring and player welfare. The comfort, size and fit of the iMG were reported as the major barriers to player use. Time constraints and a lack of understanding of data were barriers to engagement with the data. Continued education on how iMG data can be used is required to increase player and staff buy-in, alongside improving comfort of the devices. Studies undertaken with iMGs investigating player performance and welfare outcomes will make data more useful and increase engagement.

The speed and acceleration of the ball carrier and tackler into contact during front-on tackles in rugby league.

The aim was to use a combination of video analysis and microtechnology (10 Hz global positioning system [GPS]) to quantify and compare the speed and acceleration of ball-carriers and tacklers during the pre-contact phase (contact - 0.5s) of the tackle event during rugby league match-play. Data were collected from 44 professional male rugby league players from two Super League clubs across two competitive matches. Tackle events were coded and subject to three stages of inclusion criteria to identify front-on tackles. 10 Hz GPS data was synchronised with video to extract the speed and acceleration of the ball-carrier and tackler into each front-on tackle (n = 214). Linear mixed effects models (effect size [ES], confidence intervals, p-values) compared differences. Overall, ball-carriers (4.73 ± 1.12 m∙s-1) had greater speed into front-on tackles than tacklers (2.82 ± 1.07 m∙s-1; ES = 1.69). Ball-carriers accelerated (0.67 ± 1.01 m∙s-2) into contact whilst tacklers decelerated (-1.26 ± 1.36 m∙s-2; ES = 1.74). Positional comparisons showed speed was greater during back vs. back (ES = 0.66) and back vs. forward (ES = 0.40) than forward vs. forward tackle events. Findings can be used to inform strategies to improve performance and player welfare.

Incidence of concussion in men's Super League, Championship, and Academy rugby league matches between 2016 and 2022.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the incidence of concussion and compare between playing levels in male rugby league. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. METHODS: Between 2016 and 2022, medically diagnosed concussions in Super League, Championship, and Academy competitions were reported to the Rugby Football League via club medical staff. Anonymised data were analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects models by season, month, and between competitions. RESULTS: Overall, 1403 concussions were identified from 104,209 player-match hours. Concussion incidence for Super League, Championship, and Academy was 15.5, 10.5, and 14.3 per 1000 player-match hours, respectively. Championship concussion incidence was significantly lower than the Super League (p < 0.001) and Academy (p < 0.001). No significant differences were identified between years for Super League (range: 13.3 to 18.8 per 1000 player-match hours) and Championship (range: 8.4 to 12.1 per 1000 player-match hours). In Academy (range: 9.6 to 20.5 per 1000 player-match hours), concussion incidence was significantly greater in 2021 compared to earlier years (2016, p = 0.01 and 2017, p = 0.03). No significant differences were identified between months for any competition. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of concussion is greater in Super League and Academy compared to the Championship. Academy concussion incidence has increased over time. Different factors between and within competitions, such as changes to medical standards and knowledge, could have influenced the identification and diagnosis of concussion.

Early Guided Palliative Care Communication for Patients With COVID-19 Receiving ECMO.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) combined with COVID-19 presents challenges (eg, isolation, anticipatory grief) for patients and families. OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 receiving ECMO, (2) develop a practice improvement strategy to implement early, semistructured palliative care communication in ECMO acknowledgment meetings with patients' families, and (3) examine family members' experiences as recorded in clinicians' notes during these meetings. METHODS: Descriptive observation of guided, in-depth meetings with families of patients with COVID-19 receiving ECMO, as gathered from the electronic medical record of a large urban academic medical center. Most meetings were held within 3 days of initiation of ECMO. RESULTS: Forty-three patients received ECMO between March and October 2020. The mean patient age was 44 years; 63% of patients were Hispanic/Latino, 19% were Black, and 7% were White. Documentation of the ECMO acknowledgment meeting was completed for 60% of patients. Fifty-six percent of patients survived to hospital discharge. Family discussions revealed 7 common themes: hope, reliance on faith, multiple family members with COVID-19, helping children adjust to a new normal, visitation restrictions, gratitude for clinicians and care, and end-of-life discussions. CONCLUSION: Early and ongoing provision of palliative care is feasible and useful for highlighting a range of experiences related to COVID-19. Palliative care is also useful for educating patients and families on the benefits and limitations of ECMO therapy.

Consensus on a netball video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions by the netball video analysis consensus group.

Using an expert consensus-based approach, a netball video analysis consensus (NVAC) group of researchers and practitioners was formed to develop a video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions of physical, technical and contextual aspects for netball research. The framework aims to improve the consistency of language used within netball investigations. It also aims to guide injury mechanism reporting and identification of injury risk factors. The development of the framework involved a systematic review of the literature and a Delphi process. In conjunction with commercially used descriptors and definitions, 19 studies were used to create the initial framework of key descriptors and definitions in netball. In a two round Delphi method consensus, each expert rated their level of agreement with each of the descriptors and associated definition on a 5-point Likert scale (1-strongly disagree; 2-somewhat disagree; 3-neither agree nor disagree; 4-somewhat agree; 5-strongly agree). The median (IQR) rating of agreement was 5.0 (0.0), 5.0 (0.0) and 5.0 (0.0) for physical, technical and contextual aspects, respectively. The NVAC group recommends usage of the framework when conducting video analysis research in netball. The use of descriptors and definitions will be determined by the nature of the work and can be combined to incorporate further movements and actions used in netball. The framework can be linked with additional data, such as injury surveillance and microtechnology data.

A novel application of entropy analysis for assessing changes in movement variability during cumulative tackles in young elite rugby league players.

The aim of this study was to identify between-position (forwards vs. backs) differences in movement variability in cumulative tackle events training during both attacking and defensive roles. Eleven elite adolescent male rugby league players volunteered to participate in this study (mean ± SD, age; 18.5 ± 0.5 years, height; 179.5 ± 5.0 cm, body mass; 88.3 ± 13.0 kg). Participants performed a drill encompassing four blocks of six tackling (i.e. tackling an opponent) and six tackled (i.e. being tackled by an opponent while carrying a ball) events (i.e. 48 total tackles) while wearing a micro-technological inertial measurement unit (WIMU, Realtrack Systems, Spain). The acceleration data were used to calculate sample entropy (SampEn) to analyse the movement variability during tackles performance. In tackling actions SampEn showed significant between-position differences in block 1 (p = 0.0001) and block 2 (p = 0.0003). Significant between-block differences were observed in backs (block 1 vs 3, p = 0,0021; and block 1 vs 4, p = 0,0001) but not in forwards. When being tackled, SampEn showed significant between-position differences in block 1 (p = 0.0007) and block 3 (p = 0.0118). Significant between-block differences were only observed for backs in block 1 vs 4 (p = 0,0025). Movement variability shows a progressive reduction with cumulative tackle events, especially in backs and when in the defensive role (tackling). Forwards present lower movement variability values in all blocks, particularly in the first block, both in the attacking and defensive role. Entropy measures can be used by practitioners as an alternative tool to analyse the temporal structure of variability of tackle actions and quantify the load of these actions according to playing position.

Optimising classification in sport: a replication study using physical and technical-tactical performance indicators to classify competitive levels in rugby league match-play.

Determining key performance indicators and classifying players accurately between competitive levels is one of the classification challenges in sports analytics. A recent study applied Random Forest algorithm to identify important variables to classify rugby league players into academy and senior levels and achieved 82.0% and 67.5% accuracy for backs and forwards. However, the classification accuracy could be improved due to limitations in the existing method. Therefore, this study aimed to introduce and implement feature selection technique to identify key performance indicators in rugby league positional groups and assess the performances of six classification algorithms. Fifteen and fourteen of 157 performance indicators for backs and forwards were identified respectively as key performance indicators by the correlation-based feature selection method, with seven common indicators between the positional groups. Classification results show that models developed using the key performance indicators had improved performance for both positional groups than models developed using all performance indicators. 5-Nearest Neighbour produced the best classification accuracy for backs and forwards (accuracy = 85% and 77%) which is higher than the previous method's accuracies. When analysing classification questions in sport science, researchers are encouraged to evaluate multiple classification algorithms and a feature selection method should be considered for identifying key variables.

Contributors to negative biopsychosocial health or performance outcomes in rugby players (CoNBO): a systematic review and Delphi study protocol.

The importance of contributors that can result in negative player outcomes in sport and the feasibility and barriers to modifying these to optimise player health and well-being have yet to be established. Within rugby codes (rugby league, rugby union and rugby sevens), within male and female cohorts across playing levels (full-time senior, part-time senior, age grade), this project aims to develop a consensus on contributors to negative biopsychosocial outcomes in rugby players (known as the CoNBO study) and establish stakeholder perceived importance of the identified contributors and barriers to their management. This project will consist of three parts; part 1: a systematic review, part 2: a three-round expert Delphi study and part 3: stakeholder rating of feasibility and barriers to management. Within part 1, systematic searches of electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL) will be performed. The systematic review protocol is registered with PROSPERO. Studies will be searched to identify physical, psychological and/or social factors resulting in negative player outcomes in rugby. Part 2 will consist of a three-round expert Delphi consensus study to establish additional physical, psychological and/or social factors that result in negative player outcomes in rugby and their importance. In part 3, stakeholders (eg, coaches, chief executive officers and players) will provide perceptions of the feasibility and barriers to modifying the identified factors within their setting. On completion, several manuscripts will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The findings of this project have worldwide relevance for stakeholders in the rugby codes. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022346751.

The field and resistance training loads of academy rugby league players during a pre-season: Comparisons across playing positions.

Male academy rugby league players are required to undertake field and resistance training to develop the technical, tactical and physical qualities important for success in the sport. However, limited research is available exploring the training load of academy rugby league players. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the field and resistance training loads of academy rugby league players during a pre-season period and compare training loads between playing positions (i.e., forwards vs. backs). Field and resistance training load data from 28 adolescent male (age 17 ± 1 years) rugby league players were retrospectively analysed following a 13-week pre-season training period (85 total training observations; 45 field sessions and 40 resistance training sessions). Global positioning system microtechnology, and estimated repetition volume was used to quantify external training load, and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) was used to quantify internal training load. Positional differences (forwards n = 13 and backs n = 15) in training load were established using a linear mixed effect model. Mean weekly training frequency was 7 ± 2 with duration totaling 324 ± 137 minutes, and a mean sRPE of 1562 ± 678 arbitrary units (AU). Backs covered more high-speed distance than forwards in weeks two (p = 0.024), and 11 (p = 0.028). Compared to the forwards, backs completed more lower body resistance training volume in week one (p = 0.02), more upper body volume in week three (p< 0.001) and week 12 (p = 0.005). The findings provide novel data on the field and resistance-based training load undertaken by academy rugby league players across a pre-season period, highlighting relative uniformity between playing positions. Quantifying training load can support objective decision making for the prescription and manipulation of future training, ultimately aiming to maximise training within development pathways.

Quantification of perception towards facial skin ideal complexion in multiple ethnic populations from clinical imaging cues.

OBJECTIVE: Ideal complexion is a perceptual skin quality that is strongly influenced by cultural and ethnic background. The objectives of this study are to quantitatively characterise skin ideal complexion based on clinical image cues and to compare the perceptions of ideal complexion among multiple ethnicities. METHODS: Facial images of Indian, Chinese, Caucasian and Latino females collected using VISIA®-CR were presented to naïve panels of the same ethnicity following a two-alternative forced choice design and responses on skin 'ideal complexion' were obtained from 336 panellists. Panel perception was transformed logistically (d') and projected onto a continuum (ω) following Bradley-Terry model. Image cues including skin colour and unevenness, skin shine and surface smoothness and pigmentary blotches and spots were computed using image analysis, and their relationship with ω was evaluated through multiple regression analysis. A novel skin index, namely ideal complexion score (ICS), was developed and correlated against age using linear regression. Finally, ICS was applied to evaluate treatment efficacy of a skin brightening kit on 35 female Caucasian subjects. RESULTS: Panel perception d' showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlation with the contrast of image cues for all ethnic panels (R2  = 0.74, 0.76, 0.62 and 0.46 for Indian, Chinese, Caucasian and Latino respectively) and strong correlations between perception ω and linear combinations of image cues were observed (R2 > 0.88 for all). Main effects of facial image visual cues on ideal complexion were compared: contrast of skin redness and pigmented spots and visual smoothness were important in determining ICS for all ethnicities; skin colour unevenness was more pronounced for Indian and Caucasian; skin lightness was important for Indian and Chinese; skin shine was critical for Chinese and Latino; and skin hue angle ranked higher for Caucasian. Correlations between ICS and age were observed for Indian and Caucasian (R2  = 0.55) in which ICS decreased as age increased. Twenty-nine percent improvement on ICS was observed after 12 weeks' treatment using the brightening kit compared with the baseline. CONCLUSION: Mathematical models were successfully established to describe subjective perception towards skin ideal complexion based on objectively measured image cues for multiple ethnicities.

OBJECTIF: Le teint idéal est une qualité de peau perceptuelle qui est fortement influencée par l'origine culturelle et ethnique. Les objectifs de cette étude consistent à caractériser quantitativement le teint idéal de la peau en se basant sur des repères d'image clinique et à comparer les perceptions du teint idéal parmi plusieurs origines ethniques. MÉTHODES: Des images faciales de femmes indiennes, chinoises, caucasiennes et latino-américaines recueillies à l'aide de VISIA®-CR ont été présentées à des panels naïfs de même origine ethnique, suivant une conception à choix forcé en deux alternatives, et les réponses concernant le «teint idéal¼ de la peau ont été obtenues de 336 membres du panel. La perception du panel a été transformée sur le plan logistique (d') et projetée sur un continuum (ω) selon le modèle de BradleyTerry. Les repères d'image, y compris la couleur, l'uniformité et la brillance de la peau, et la douceur de la surface de la peau, ainsi que les taches et rougeurs pigmentaires, ont été calculés à l'aide d'une analyse d'image, et leur relation avec ω a été évaluée par le biais d'une analyse de régression multiple. Un nouvel indice cutané, à savoir le score de teint idéal (STI), a été développé et corrélé à l'âge à l'aide d'une régression linéaire. Enfin, un STI a été appliqué pour évaluer l'efficacité du traitement d'un kit d'éclaircissement de la peau chez 35 sujets caucasiens de sexe féminin. RÉSULTATS: La perception du panel d' a montré une significativité statistique (p de 0.88 pour tous). Les principaux effets des repères visuels de l'image faciale sur le teint idéal ont été comparés : le contraste des rougeurs cutanées, les taches pigmentées et la douceur visuelle étaient importants pour déterminer les STI pour toutes les origines ethniques; l'inégalité de la couleur de la peau était plus prononcée pour les Indiens et les Caucasiens; la luminosité de la peau était importante pour les Indiens et les Chinois ; et l'angle de teinte de la peau était plus élevée pour les sujets caucasiens. Des corrélations entre les STI et l'âge ont été observées pour les populations indienne et caucasienne (R2  = 0.55) chez lesquelles les STI ont diminué avec l'âge. Une amélioration de vingt-neuf pour cent des STI a été observée après 12 semaines de traitement à l'aide du kit d'éclaircissement par rapport à la référence. CONCLUSION: Des modèles mathématiques ont été établis avec succès afin de décrire la perception subjective du teint idéal de la peau sur la base d'indices d'image mesurés objectivement pour plusieurs origines ethniques.

Tracking Systems in Team Sports: A Narrative Review of Applications of the Data and Sport Specific Analysis.

Seeking to obtain a competitive advantage and manage the risk of injury, team sport organisations are investing in tracking systems that can quantify training and competition characteristics. It is expected that such information can support objective decision-making for the prescription and manipulation of training load. This narrative review aims to summarise, and critically evaluate, different tracking systems and their use within team sports. The selection of systems should be dependent upon the context of the sport and needs careful consideration by practitioners. The selection of metrics requires a critical process to be able to describe, plan, monitor and evaluate training and competition characteristics of each sport. An emerging consideration for tracking systems data is the selection of suitable time analysis, such as temporal durations, peak demands or time series segmentation, whose best use depends on the temporal characteristics of the sport. Finally, examples of characteristics and the application of tracking data across seven popular team sports are presented. Practitioners working in specific team sports are advised to follow a critical thinking process, with a healthy dose of scepticism and awareness of appropriate theoretical frameworks, where possible, when creating new or selecting an existing metric to profile team sport athletes.

Isolated & Combined Wearable Technology Underestimate the Total Energy Expenditure of Professional Young Rugby League Players; A Doubly Labelled Water Validation Study.

ABSTRACT: Costello, N, Deighton, K, Cummins, C, Whitehead, S, Preston, T, and Jones, B. Isolated & combined wearable technology underestimate the total energy expenditure of professional young rugby league players; a doubly labelled water validation study. J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3398-3403, 2022-Accurately determining total energy expenditure (TEE) enables the precise manipulation of energy balance within professional collision-based sports. Therefore, this study investigated the ability of isolated or combined wearable technology to determine the TEE of professional young rugby league players across a typical preseason and in-season period. Total energy expenditure was measured via doubly labelled water, the criterion method, across a fourteen-day preseason ( n = 6) and 7-day in-season ( n = 7) period. Practical measures of TEE included SenseWear Pro3 Armbands in isolation and combined with metabolic power derived from microtechnology units. SenseWear Pro3 Armbands significantly under-reported preseason (5.00 [2.52] MJ·d -1 ; p = 0.002) and in-season (2.86 [1.15] MJ·d -1 ; p < 0.001) TEE, demonstrating a large and extremely large standardized mean bias, and a very large and large typical error, respectively. Combining metabolic power with SenseWear Pro3 Armbands almost certainly improved preseason (0.95 [0.15] MJ·d -1 ; Effect size = 0.32 ± 0.04; p < 0.001) and in-season (1.01 [0.15] MJ·d -1 ; ES = 0.88 ± 1.05; p < 0.001) assessment. However, SenseWear Pro3 Armbands combined with metabolic power continued to significantly under-report preseason (4.04 [2.38] MJ·d -1 ; p = 0.004) and in-season (2.18 [0.96] MJ·d -1 ; p = 0.002) expenditure, demonstrating a large and very large standardized mean bias, and a very large and large typical error, respectively. These findings demonstrate the limitations of utilizing isolated or combined wearable technology to accurately determine the TEE of professional collision-based sport athletes across different stages of the season.

The Applied Sports Science and Medicine of Netball: A Systematic Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Netball is the one of the most popular women's sports in the world. Since gaining professional status in 2008 there has been a rapid growth in research in the applied sports science and medicine of the sport. A scoping review of the area would provide practitioners and researchers with an overview of the current scientific literature to support on-court performance, player welfare and reduce injury. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to identify the current research on the applied sports science and medicine of netball. Additionally, the article provides a brief summary of the research in each topic of sports science and medicine in netball and identifies gaps in the current research. METHODS: Systematic searches of PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE and CINAHL were undertaken from earliest record to Dec 2020 and reference lists were manually searched. The PRISMA-ScR protocol was followed. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they investigated netball as a sport or the applied sport science and medicine of netball athletes. RESULTS: 962 studies were identified in the initial search, 150 of which met the inclusion criteria. Injury was the most highly investigated sport science and medicine topic (n = 45), followed by physical qualities (n = 37), match characteristics (n = 24), biomechanics (n = 15), psychology (n = 13), fatigue and recovery (n = 9), training load (n = 4) and nutrition (n = 3). A range of cohorts were used from school to elite and international standards. All cohorts were female netballers, except for one study. A rapid growth in studies over recent years was demonstrated with 65% of studies published in the last decade. There still remains gaps in the literature, with a low evidence base for nutrition, training load and fatigue and recovery. CONCLUSION: This scoping review summarises the current evidence base and key findings that can be used in practice to enhance the applied sport science and medical support to netball athletes across a range of playing standards, and support the growth of the sport. It is evident that netball as a sport is still under-researched.

The Duration-specific Peak Average Running Speeds of European Super League Academy Rugby League Match Play.

ABSTRACT: Whitehead, S, Till, K, Weaving, D, Dalton-Barron, N, Ireton, M, and Jones, B. Duration-specific peak average running speeds of European Super League Academy rugby league match play. J Strength Cond Res 35(7): 1964-1971, 2021-This study aimed to quantify the duration-specific peak average running speeds of Academy-level rugby league match play, and compare between playing positions. Global positioning system data were collected from 149 players competing across 9 teams during 21 professional Academy (under-19) matches. Players were split into 6 positions: hookers (n = 40), fullbacks (n = 24), halves (n = 47), outside backs (n = 104), middles (n = 118), and backrow forwards (n = 104). Data were extracted and the 10-Hz raw velocity files exported to determine the peak average running speeds, via moving averages of speed (m·min-1), for 10- and 30-second, and 1- to 5- and 10-minute durations. The data were log transformed and analyzed using linear mixed-effect models followed by magnitude-based inferences, to determine differences between positions. Differences in the peak average running speeds are present between positions, indicating the need for position-specific prescription of velocity-based training. Fullbacks perform possibly to most likely greater average running speeds than all other positions, at each duration, except at 10 seconds vs. outside backs. Other differences are duration dependent. For 10 seconds, the average running speed is most likely greater for outside backs vs. the hookers, middles, and backrow forwards, but likely to most likely lower for 10 minutes. Hookers have possibly trivial or lower average speed for 10 seconds vs. middles and backrow forwards, but very likely greater average running speed for 10 minutes. The identified peak average running speeds of Academy-level match play seem similar to previously reported values of senior professional level.

The use of technical-tactical and physical performance indicators to classify between levels of match-play in elite rugby league.

This study aimed to identify which physical and technical-tactical performance indicators (PI) can classify between levels of rugby league match-play. Data were collected from 46 European Super League (ESL) and 36 under-19 Academy (Academy) level matches over two seasons. Thirty-one ESL players and 41 Academy players participated. Microtechnology units were used to analyse the physical PI and matches were videoed and coded for individual technical-tactical PI, resulting in 157 predictor variables. Data were split into training and testing datasets. Random forests (RF) were built to reduce the dimensionality of the data, identify variables of importance and build classification models. To aid practical interpretation, conditional inference (CI) trees were built. Nine variables were identified as most important for backs, classifying between levels with 83% (RF) and 78% (CI tree) accuracy. The combination of variables with the highest classification rate was PlayerLoad2D, PlayerLoadSLOW per Kg body mass and high-speed running distance. Four variables were identified as most important for forwards, classifying with 68% (RF) and 64% (CI tree) accuracy. Defensive play-the-ball losses alone had the highest classification rate for forwards. The identified PI and their unique combinations can be developed during training to aid in progression through the rugby league playing pathway.

Illness and infection in elite full-contact football-code sports: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Full-contact football-code team sports offer a unique environment for illness risk. During training and match-play, players are exposed to high-intensity collisions which may result in skin-on-skin abrasions and transfer of bodily fluids. Understanding the incidence of all illnesses and infections and what impact they cause to time-loss from training and competition is important to improve athlete care within these sports. This review aimed to systematically report, quantify and compare the type, incidence, prevalence and count of illnesses across full-contact football-code team sports. DESIGN/METHODS: A systematic search of Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and CINAHL electronic databases was performed from inception to October 2019; keywords relating to illness, athletes and epidemiology were used. Studies were excluded if they did not quantify illness or infection, involve elite athletes, investigate full-contact football-code sports or were review articles. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria. Five different football-codes were reported: American football (n=10), Australian rules football (n=3), rugby league (n=2), rugby sevens (n=3) and rugby union (n=9). One multi-sport study included both American football and rugby union. Full-contact football-code athletes are most commonly affected by respiratory system illnesses. There is a distinct lack of consensus of illness monitoring methodology. CONCLUSIONS: Full-contact football-code team sport athletes are most commonly affected by respiratory system illnesses. Due to various monitoring methodologies, illness incidence could only be compared between studies that used matching incidence exposure measures. High-quality illness surveillance data collection is an essential component to undertake effective and targeted illness prevention in athletes.

Promoting Active Aging: Lessons Learned in an Implementation Pilot in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) preserves mobility, but few practices screen older adults for mobility impairment or counsel on PA. DESIGN: "Promoting Active Aging" (PAA) was a mixed-methods randomized-controlled pilot, to test the feasibility and acceptability of a video-based PA counseling tool and implementation into practice of two mobility assessment tools. SETTING: Three primary care practices affiliated with Wake Forest Baptist Health. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 65 years and older who presented for primary care follow-up and were willing and able to answer self-report questions and walk 4 meters (n = 59). INTERVENTION: Video-based PA counseling intervention versus control video, "Healthy Eating." MEASUREMENTS: Potential participants completed mobility assessments: self-report (Mobility Assessment Tool-short form (MAT-sf)) and performance based (4-meter walk test). We assessed PAA's implementation-feasibility, acceptability, and value-via interviews and surveys. Effectiveness was measured via participant attendance at a PA information session. RESULTS: Of 92 patients approached, 89 (96.7%) agreed to mobility assessment. Eighty-nine completed MAT-sf, and 97.8% (87/89) completed 4-meter walk test. Sixty-seven (75%) met eligibility criteria, and 59 (88%) consented to be randomized either to the PA counseling intervention (Video-PA) or to active control (Video-C). Most participants viewed the walk test positively (51/59; 86.4%). Staff reported that completion of patient surveys, MAT-sf, and videos required significant staff time and support (median = 26 minutes for all), resulting in low acceptability of MAT-sf and the videos. Attendance at a PA information session did not differ by randomization group (Video-PA = 11/29 (37.9%); Video-C = 12/30 (40%); 95% confidence interval for difference in proportion = -0.29 to 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Mobility assessment, particularly a 4-meter walk test, was feasible in primary care. Tablet-based assessment (MAT-sf) and video counseling tools, selected to reduce staff effort, instead required significant time to implement. Future work to promote PA should identify effective ways to facilitate adoption of PA in sedentary older adults that do not burden staff.

Time to embrace the complexity when analysing GPS data? A systematic review of contextual factors on match running in rugby league.

This systematic review aimed to identify and summarise associations between currently identified contextual factors and match running in senior male professional rugby league. Eligible articles included at least one contextual factor and used GPS to measure at least one displacement variable within competitive senior, male, professional rugby league matches. Of the 15 included studies, the identified contextual factors were grouped into factors related to individual characteristics (n = 3), match result (n = 4), team strength (n = 2), opposition strength (n = 3), match conditions (n = 6), technical and tactical demands (n = 6), spatial and temporal characteristics (n = 7), and nutrition (n = 1). Speed was the most commonly reported measure of match running (100%), followed by distance (47%), and acceleration (20%). Inconsistencies were found between studies for most contextual factors on match running. Higher speeds were generally associated with higher fitness, encountered earlier in the match and whilst defending. All 15 studies utilised a univariate approach to quantify associations of a contextual factor. The inconsistencies found in the associations of given contextual factors highlight the complex and multi-faceted nature of match running. Therefore, practitioners should consider contextual factors when analysing and interpreting GPS data.

Can a contemporary dietary assessment tool or wearable technology accurately assess the energy intake of professional young rugby league players? A doubly labelled water validation study.

Accurate quantification of energy intake is imperative in athletes; however traditional dietary assessment tools are frequently inaccurate. Therefore, this study investigated the validity of a contemporary dietary assessment tool or wearable technology to determine the total energy intake (TEI) of professional young athletes. The TEI of eight professional young male rugby league players was determined by three methods; Snap-N-Send, SenseWear Armbands (SWA) combined with metabolic power and doubly labelled water (DLW; intake-balance method; criterion) across a combined ten-day pre-season and seven-day in-season period. Changes in fasted body mass were recorded, alongside changes in body composition via isotopic dilution and a validated energy density equation. Energy intake was calculated via the intake-balance method. Snap-N-Send non-significantly over-reported pre-season and in-season energy intake by 0.21 (2.37) MJ.day-1 (p = 0.833) and 0.51 (1.73) MJ.day-1 (p = 0.464), respectively. This represented a trivial and small standardised mean bias, and very large and large typical error. SenseWear Armbands and metabolic power significantly under-reported pre-season and in-season TEI by 3.51 (2.42) MJ.day-1 (p = 0.017) and 2.18 (1.85) MJ.day-1 (p = 0.021), respectively. This represents a large and moderate standardised mean bias, and very large and very large typical error. There was a most likely larger daily error reported by SWA and metabolic power than Snap-N-Send across pre-season (3.30 (2.45) MJ.day-1; ES = 1.26 ± 0.68; p = 0.014) and in-season periods (1.67 (2.00) MJ.day-1; ES = 1.27 ± 0.70; p = 0.012). This study demonstrates the enhanced validity of Snap-N-Send for assessing athlete TEI over combined wearable technology, although caution is required when determining the individual TEIs of athletes via Snap-N-Send.