Category: Concussion
Rugby Science Update 14
A Coaching Session Framework to Facilitate Long-Term Athletic Development
The purpose of this article is to describe an evidence-based coaching session framework that can be applied in various coaching sessions. This framework is aimed to guide and optimise long-term athlete development across different youth ages, multiple sports, various development stages and considers the integration of both physical development and technical, tactical, and psychosocial development. Finally, it addresses how coaches can apply the framework. The coaching framework is based on RAMPAGE – Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Prepare, Activity, Games, Evaluate. Raise involves increasing the body temperature to prevent injuries and improve the athlete’s motor performance. This phase aims to enhance the locomotor skills and should include movement in all directions. Activate and Mobilize refers to the framework’s section involving dynamic movement. Dynamic movements facilitate physical preparation, reduce injury risks, and incorporate stability and mobility skills. The Prepare stage involves high-intensity movements (such as sprinting, jumping, or throwing) with maximal effort. This phase prepares athletes for high intensity movements in the session or, from a developmental perspective, harnesses specific physical capabilities. The Activity stage focuses on the coaching session’s main content. Games facilitate the development of technical, tactical, physical, and psychosocial aspects through activities such as small-sided games, adding in an element of fun to the coaching session. The Evaluate stage involves the cool-down process, providing an opportunity for ‘add-ons’ and flexibility. This phase encourages reflection on the coaching session, with the use of the rating of perceived challenge scale to monitor the technical and tactical aspects of their training. Additionally, the authors recommend focusing on communication, control, confidence, concentration, resilience, presence, self-awareness, and commitment for personal and psychosocial development.
This study is published in Strength and Conditioning Journal.
The aim of this study is to describe and analyse the locomotor movements of the players in the National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) competition in Australia and New Zealand. A total of 117 players participated this study. All match (n = 12) and demographic data were collected from the NRLW website. The locomotor data were collected from the NRLW using Catapult OptimEyes S5 receivers. The data were collected from the 2018 and 2019 NRLW Holden Premiership seasons. Mean speed (m min−1), mean high-speed (>12 km h−1; m min−1), mean acceleration (m s−2) and points scored were the match variables used for analysis. The results showed that greater high speed running and lower mean acceleration was associated with more points scored, indicating that less accelerating and decelerating or faster speed of play was associated with more points being scored. Furthermore, other findings indicated that the difference in mean high-speed running between teams was associated with a higher points differential. For example, if a team completed 10% more high-speed running than their opposition, they were likely to score an average of 3.2 points more during a given match-half. In summary, this study suggests that high speed running should be considered a crucial characteristic in elite female rugby league conditioning programmes. Moreover, enhancing players’ high-speed running capacity may contribute to improved performance.
This study is published in Journal of Sports Sciences.
The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical presentation of players with a concussion during the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) 1, 2 and 3 process and to identify whether any sub-tests are associated with longer RTP time after a concussion. A total of 380 cases of match concussion from 3 seasons (2018–2021) of English club rugby were analysed. Players were identified with a possible concussion using either Criteria 1 signs during a match or during the 3-stage HIA process. Following the identification of a concussion, SCAT5 was used to diagnose the concussion and players then entered the 6-stage Gradual Return to Play protocol. Players were classified based on their time loss, with shorter RTP cased defined as RTP within 7 days of diagnosis and longer RTP cases as RTP in 8 or more days after diagnosis. Th study revealed that players who had been diagnosed with a concussion 12 months prior to their current concussion were 2.6 times more likely to be in the longer RTP cases. The severity of acute and sub-acute symptoms was identified as a predictor of slower RTP cases. Moreover, the study found that 31% of players with abnormal results in HIA3 (48 hours post diagnosis) were in the shorter RTP category, whereas the majority of players with symptom worsening during HIA3 were in the longer RTP cases. Interestingly, no cognitive or balance sub-test abnormalities or impairments are associated with longer return to play time. As a recommendation, authors suggest implementing a more conservative concussion management approach in sports.
This study is published in the Journal Sport and Health Sciences.
Rugby Science Update 13
The objective of this study was to describe the Head acceleration events (HAE) burden across various age groups, ranging from U13 to Senior Premier Club level, and the different playing positions during both matches and training. Data were gathered using Prevent Biometric instrumented mouthguards (iMG) throughout the 2023 community rugby season, involving 328 male rugby players in 48 matches and 113 training sessions across U13, U15, U19, and Senior Premier men levels. All iMGs were equipped with an embedding sensor, triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope to detect ‘on-tooth’ time, as well as linear and angular kinematics, respectively. Additionally, all rugby sessions were recorded. Despite similar rugby exposure time across age grades, the percentage of HAE exposure increased with higher age grade, reflecting elevated match intensity as players matured. Notably, 65% of HAEs occurred during matches for the Senior Premier level, with significantly smaller proportions during matches as age decreased. The study revealed a decline in HAE exposure during training with age. Furthermore, the relative risk of experiencing a high magnitude HAE was found to be is 1.36 times higher for U19 players compared to other levels. When analysing player positions, forwards exhibited a higher HAE exposure rate than backs, particularly in the tackle and ruck events, likely attributed to increased contact for forwards. Interestingly, at the U13 level, backs experienced more low-magnitude HAE during training sessions, presenting an opposite position incidence to Senior Premier players. Tackles accounted for 66–75% of HAE exposure in matches, emphasizing the authors recommendation for the importance of tackle and ruck technique training, particularly for higher grade players.
This study is published in Sports Medicine.
The purpose of this review is to discuss the current knowledge regarding the relationship between body composition (BC) and athletic performance across different ages and sports. Additionally, the review aims to survey the evolution of BC considerations in international sport over the last decade and provide best practice recommendations for BC considerations to prevent potential health and performance consequences. A review search was conducted on PubMed in August 2022 and December 2022, focusing on exploring the impact of athletes’ BC on performance outcomes. The review includes a total of 29 studies, with most of them involving well trained athletes in individual sports. To address the evolution of BC considerations over the last decade, an electronic questionnaire was developed and circulated via social media and email lists. The survey included 125 practitioners from 26 countries working within competitive sports. The findings of this review indicate limited evidence regarding the association between BC and competitive success. Notably, endurance athletes ten to benefit from leanness, and muscle mass is crucial across various sports. Overall, persistent training and experience are essential for talent development and performance success. The survey results highlight the necessity for a more holistic approach to using and reporting BC data over the past decade. Practitioners emphasize the need for awareness and education on how BC assessment affects both performance and health. The survey also highlights that methods have remained largely unchanged over the decades, with practitioners still comparing arbitrary sport-specific ideal BC. The authors emphasize the importance of approaching BC assessments and reporting BC data appropriately. They recommend assessing BC only when necessary and providing the necessary support for athletes to avoid potential health risks. To mitigate these risks, pre-screening should be conducted by the medical and performance team. Testing protocol should be chosen wisely, with a recommended frequency not exceeding 4-6 times a year. Additionally, BC assessment for athletes under the age of 18 is not recommended.
This study is published in British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The primary aim of this study was to investigate changes in player and referee behaviour following the implementation of the lowered (armpit) legal tackle height law variation intervention in amateur community rugby. Additionally, the study aimed to assess on-field referee sanctioning decisions for illegal high tackles. Building on a prior study which implemented the lowered (armpit) legal tackle height law intervention in the amateur community rugby, this research examined referee and player behaviour across three periods of the season. The study involved 42 teams participating in the university rugby club’s four-league, inter-residence competition with the inclusion of 16 referees from the South African Referees Academy. All matches were recorded and video footage from the mounted Go Pro on the referees was captured. Evaluation of on-field referee sanctioning was carried out by a professional South African Rugby Union (SARU) international-level referee, which assessed all videos coded as ‘high’ under the new law variation. The findings of the study revealed a positive on-field behaviour change in both players and referees following the new law variation. There was a significantly higher sanctioning rate by the referees in the middle period of the session, potentially contributing to a significant reduction in upright tackles in the last part of the season. Additionally, there was a fair agreement between the independent referee evaluation and the on-field sanctioning when reviewing the high tackles.
This study is published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.
Rugby Science Update 12
Cardiovascular risk and systemic inflammation in male professional rugby: a cross-sectional study
The aim of this study was to characterize cardiovascular risk factors, including markers of inflammation, in professional rugby players based on their position. Furthermore, the study compared inflammatory markers in rugby players to those in healthy controls and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). All professional rugby players (n=46) were free from injury and illness at the time of data collection. The rugby players were then categorized by position; forwards (n=21) and backs (n=25). All data collections were collected during the pre-season. Markers of inflammation for the healthy controls and RA patients were obtained from a biobank database at Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute. Most rugby players in this study exhibited at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Forwards had higher values for all body composition variables, C-reactive protein (CRP) and glucose compared to backs. The rugby player cohort overall showed increased levels of systemic inflammation. One-third of the cohort displayed similarity in inflammation levels to patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. The authors note that the sample size is too small to generalize findings. However, there is a risk of hypertension and dyslipidaemia that should be screened for in rugby players.
This study is published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of concussion in the male rugby league at Super League, Championship, and Academy levels between 2016 and 2022. All rugby league medical teams must complete and submit a concussion report within 24 hours of a concussion to the Rugby Football League in elite senior and academy levels. All data used in this study was extracted from this dataset spanning the seasons 2016 to 2022. The data was extracted from the top tier Super League (n = 12 teams), second tier Championship (n = 14 teams), and RFL Academy (n = 12 teams). A total of 1403 concussions were reported (Super League = 538; Championship = 358; Academy = 507). The overall concussion incidence was significantly higher for Super League (15.5 (14.2–16.9) per 1000 player-match hours) and Academy (14.3 (13.1-15.6) per 1000 player-match hours) compared to the Championship (10.5 (9.5-11.7) per 1000 player match hours). One possible reason for this difference is the increased availability of resources for identifying concussions. Additionally, there has been an emphasis on concussion caution for youth players. Concussion incidence in Academy players was higher in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, potentially influenced by COVID-19 pandemic, which limited training and playing opportunities for these players. Lastly, no difference was found in concussion incidence between months at all the levels.
This study is published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.
The purpose of this study is to explore injuries in Canadian high school rugby boys and provide insights for future injury prevention strategies. Data collection took place during the 2018 and 2019 high-school rugby seasons in Calgary, Alberta. Seven schools were recruited for this study and 12 teams were included. Preseason testing was conducted at the start of the season, with weekly visits to the schools during the season to obtain the injury data. The total time loss injury incidence for matches was 48.4 injury per 1000 hours (95% CI: 37.7-62.0) and a concussion injury incidence of 22.0 concussions per 1000 hours (95% CI: 15.9-30.4). For training injury incidence, the overall time-loss injury incidence was 1.9 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI: 1.2- 2.9) and the training concussion injury incidence was 0.6 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI: 0.3-1.2). No significant differences were observed between seasons. The head was the most common injury location in both matches and training, with the concussion being the most common injury type. The tackle event accounted for 65% of match injuries, with the ball carrier contributing to 35% of tackle injuries, followed by the tackler (30%). In training, the tackle constituted 58% of injuries, with the tackler having the highest injury proportion (51%) compared to the ball carrier (7%). The most common mechanism for concussions in matches was being tackled (41%), followed by tackling (53%). In training, the predominant concussion mechanism was tackling (45%), followed by being tackled (23%). The authors highlighted the need for implementation of injury and concussion-specific prevention strategies. Due to the significant number of tackle-related injuries, there is a need to focus on tackle specific injury prevention strategies.
This study is published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.
Rugby Science 