Quantifying high-speed running in rugby league: An insight into practitioner applications and perceptions

Abstract

High-speed running has previously been documented as a popular metric among rugby league researchers. Researchers place importance on high-speed running due to its inclusion in assessing the demands of training and match-play to help prescribe accurate training loads and recovery methods. However, there is currently no information available as to how important rugby league practitioners perceive high-speed running to be and what methods are currently used by practitioners to quantify high-speed running. Furthermore, practitioners’ perceptions of specific benefits, barriers and motivations when selecting high-speed running methods are also currently limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a current insight into the practice and perceptions of rugby league practitioners when quantifying high-speed running. This study surveyed practitioners working in the European Super League ( n = 12) and the Australasian National Rugby League ( n = 11). Ranking analysis established high-speed running to be the most important metric for both training practice and match-play. Absolute high-speed running thresholds were applied by 52% of respondents ( n = 12) with the most common being 5.5 m·s−1 ( n = 9). Individualised high-speed running thresholds were applied by 48% of respondents ( n = 11) with the most common approach implementing peak sprint speed methods ( n = 9). Absolute high-speed running thresholds are perceived to permit better group data comparison, whereas individualised methods are perceived to permit better interpretation of high-speed running data. Ultimately, practitioners are motivated to implement their chosen methods with the possibility of more accurately prescribed high-speed running thresholds, although the impracticality of specific testing procedures may act as a barrier.

A Importência Dos Treinos De Velocidade Para Corredores De Longa Distância

“…O treinamento de velocidade na corrida é um componente essencial para atletas em diversas modalidades esportivas, incluindo o atletismo e esportes coletivos como o rugby e o futebol. Este tipo de treinamento visa melhorar a capacidade máxima de velocidade e a eficiência na execução de sprints, sendo fundamental para o desempenho atlético (Bennett et al, 2022;Akbar & Longhurst, 2020). De acordo com Ishak, Khaled e Válková (2022), o treinamento de alta intensidade, que inclui exercícios de velocidade, apresenta benefícios 8 significativos na melhoria do consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2max), potência, velocidade aeróbica máxima (VMA), resistência e na redução de peso.…”

“…Segundo Bennett et al (2022), o treinamento de alta velocidade é crucial para a prescrição de cargas de treino e métodos de recuperação. Além disso, Ishak et al ( 2022) destacam que o treinamento de alta intensidade baseado em movimentos corporais e sprints contribui significativamente para o desenvolvimento de variáveis de aptidão básica e perda de peso, o que é essencial para corredores durante períodos como a pandemia de COVID-19.…”

“…Este tipo de treinamento visa melhorar a capacidade máxima de velocidade e a eficiência na execução de sprints, sendo fundamental para o desempenho atlético (Bennett et al, 2022; Akbar & Longhurst, 2020). De acordo com Ishak, Khaled e Válková (2022), o treinamento de alta intensidade, que inclui exercícios de velocidade, apresenta benefícios 8 significativos na melhoria do consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2max), potência, velocidade aeróbica máxima (VMA), resistência e na redução de peso.Os benefícios do treino de velocidade para corredores são vastos.SegundoBennett et al (2022), o treinamento de alta velocidade é crucial para a prescrição de cargas de treino e métodos de recuperação. Além disso, o treinamento de velocidade na corrida é um elemento chave para o aprimoramento do desempenho atlético, oferecendo benefícios como aumento da VO2max, potência, VMA, resistência e auxílio na redução de peso.…”

Engineering Features from Raw Sensor Data to Analyse Player Movements during Competition

“…Technological advancements have made it possible to measure positions, motion, and inertial forces related to human movements with several types of new instruments within the field of wearable sensors. Due to their low cost, cutting-edge technology, and easy portability, wearable sensors have been widely used in the last decade to assess and analyse physical activity [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], game demands [ 4 ], and external loads in sports analytics [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. The capability of wearable devices for assessing and measuring human physical performances enables them to become a fixture in the near future of sports science.…”

Validation of field-based running tests to determine maximal aerobic speed in professional rugby league

“…A recent survey of practitioner applications and perceptions of HSR reported that 52% of rugby league practitioners apply absolute HSR thresholds among National Rugby League and European Super League teams, with the other 48% implementing individualised methods [ 8 ]. According to the literature, the most recently applied absolute HSR threshold is 5.5 m·s -1 [ 2 , 8 , 9 ], where the same speed is applied to all players. However, this contradicts thresholds of 5.0 m·s -1 which have been commonly used within the scientific literature [ 10 ].…”