Differences and variability of physical and technical characteristics among rugby union small-sided games performed within a preseason

Autor: Marco Zanin, Jayamini Ranaweera, Joshua Darrall-Jones, Gregory Roe
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. :174795412311533
ISSN: 2048-397X
1747-9541
DOI: 10.1177/17479541231153387
Popis: This study aimed to investigate the differences in physical and technical characteristics among three specific rugby union small-sided games (SSG) and to examine the variability of these characteristics over three weeks within a preseason of a professional rugby union club. Eighteen backs and 22 forwards were recruited for the study. The three SSG designs were: backs only (SSG-B), forwards only (SSG-F) and both backs and forwards (SSG-BF). Physical characteristics were quantified using external (e.g., total distance covered [m·min−1]) and internal (i.e., Stagno's training impulse [AU·min−1]) load measures. Technical characteristics were quantified using the number of rucks, successful passes, unsuccessful passes, line breaks and tries per minute. The SSG-BF produced a greater high speed (>61%) running distance covered in comparison with SSG-B (1.97 vs. 1.32 m·min−1) and SSG-F (1.26 vs. 0.94 m·min−1), and more successful passes (9.47 vs. 9.36 count·min−1) and line breaks (0.98 vs. 0.65 count·min−1) than SSG-F. Conversely, all the other physical and technical characteristics were higher in SSG-B and SSG-F. All the physical and technical characteristics, except high speed (>61%) distance covered in forwards and unsuccessful passes and tries per minute, changed over days showing either a linear or quadratic pattern. Based on these findings, practitioners may implement position-specific SSG (i.e., SSG-B and SSG-F) to expose players to greater physical and technical characteristics. Furthermore, if SSGs were to be repeated across multiple days, practitioners should be aware of the possible variability in physical and technical characteristics due to potential adaptations to the constraints or the onset of fatigue.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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