IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i24p13390-d706279.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Influence of Physical and Technical Aspects on Change of Direction Performance of Rugby Players: An Exploratory Study

Author

Listed:
  • Tomás T. Freitas

    (UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain
    NAR—Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil
    Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos 11015-020, Brazil
    Faculty of Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain)

  • Pedro E. Alcaraz

    (UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain)

  • Julio Calleja-González

    (Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Basque Country, 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain)

  • Ademir F. S. Arruda

    (Brazilian Rugby Confederation, São Paulo 01407-911, Brazil)

  • Aristide Guerriero

    (Brazilian Rugby Confederation, São Paulo 01407-911, Brazil)

  • Valter P. Mercer

    (NAR—Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil)

  • Lucas A. Pereira

    (NAR—Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil
    Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos 11015-020, Brazil)

  • Felipe P. Carpes

    (Applied Neuromechanics Research Group, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana 96400-100, Brazil)

  • Michael R. McGuigan

    (School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia
    Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 0632, New Zealand)

  • Irineu Loturco

    (NAR—Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil
    Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos 11015-020, Brazil
    University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF037 1DL, UK)

Abstract

We examined the relationships between change of direction (COD) speed and deficit, and a series of speed- and power-related measurements in national team rugby union players and analyzed the influence of movement patterns on COD ability. Eleven male athletes completed the following physical assessments on different days: day 1—anthropometric measurements, and lower-body kinematic parameters (assessed with eight inertial sensors) and completion time in COD tests (pro-agility, 45° cutting maneuver (CUT), and “L” (L-Drill)); day 2—bilateral and unilateral squat and countermovement jumps, 40 m linear sprint, and bar-power output in the jump squat and half-squat exercises. Pearson’s product–moment correlations were performed to determine the relationships between COD velocities, COD deficits, and the speed–power variables. Differences between players with higher and lower COD deficits were examined using magnitude-based inferences. Results showed that (1) greater sprint momentum was associated with higher COD deficits, particularly in drills with sharper angles and multiple directional changes (L-drill and pro-agility); (2) higher unilateral jump heights were associated with greater COD deficits in the pro-agility and L-drill but not in the CUT; (3) faster athletes were less efficient at changing direction and presented greater trunk and knee flexion angles during COD maneuvers, probably as a consequence of higher inertia.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomás T. Freitas & Pedro E. Alcaraz & Julio Calleja-González & Ademir F. S. Arruda & Aristide Guerriero & Valter P. Mercer & Lucas A. Pereira & Felipe P. Carpes & Michael R. McGuigan & Irineu Loturco, 2021. "Influence of Physical and Technical Aspects on Change of Direction Performance of Rugby Players: An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13390-:d:706279
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/13390/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/13390/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ziemowit Bańkosz & Sławomir Winiarski & Ivan Malagoli Lanzoni, 2020. "Gender Differences in Kinematic Parameters of Topspin Forehand and Backhand in Table Tennis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-12, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jon Mikel Picabea & Jesús Cámara & Javier Yanci, 2021. "Physical Fitness Profiling of National Category Table Tennis Players: Implication for Health and Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Beata Pluta & Szymon Galas & Magdalena Krzykała & Marcin Andrzejewski, 2020. "The Motor and Leisure Time Conditioning of Young Table Tennis Players’ Physical Fitness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Ziemowit Bańkosz & Sławomir Winiarski, 2020. "Statistical Parametric Mapping Reveals Subtle Gender Differences in Angular Movements in Table Tennis Topspin Backhand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13390-:d:706279. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.