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Assessing climatic, travel, and methodological influences on whole-match and worst-case scenario locomotor demands of international men’s rugby sevens match-play
,
Mark Russell,
Mark Waldron ,
David Shearer,
Ben Lonergan,
Tom Farrow,
Robin Eager,
Liam Kilduff
European Journal of Sport Science, Volume: 23, Issue: 7, Pages: 1094 - 1101
Swansea University Authors:
ELIZA ULLERSPERGER, Mark Waldron , David Shearer, Liam Kilduff
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© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0).
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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/17461391.2022.2109065
Abstract
This study assessed the influence of environmental factors, air travel, and epoch estimation method on locomotor demands of international men's rugby sevens match-play. Eighteen men's rugby sevens players wore 10 Hz Global Positioning Systems (STATsport) during 52 international matches ove...
| Published in: | European Journal of Sport Science |
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| ISSN: | 1746-1391 1536-7290 |
| Published: |
Informa UK Limited
2023
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60701 |
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| Abstract: |
This study assessed the influence of environmental factors, air travel, and epoch estimation method on locomotor demands of international men's rugby sevens match-play. Eighteen men's rugby sevens players wore 10 Hz Global Positioning Systems (STATsport) during 52 international matches over nine global tournaments (418 observations). Whole-match average speed was recorded, whilst average speed and relative high-speed distance (>5.0 m·s-1) were quantified using FIXED and ROLL methods over 60-420 s epochs (60 s increments) to establish worst-case scenario demands. Linear mixed models compared FIXED versus ROLL estimation methods and assessed whether temperature, humidity, travel duration, number of time-zones crossed, and travel direction were associated with locomotor responses. Temperature and humidity were positively associated with overall and worst-case scenario average speed (effect estimates; b: 0.18 to 0.54), whilst worst-case scenario high-speed distance at 300 s was also related to temperature (b: 0.19). Easterly air travel compromised overall and 180 and 300 s worst-case scenario average speed (b: -8.31 to-7.39), alongside high-speed distance over 300 s (b: -4.54). For worst-case scenario average speed and high-speed distance, FIXED underestimated ROLL at all epoch lengths (∼9.9 to 18.4%, p≤0.001). This study indicated that international rugby sevens match-play locomotor responses were greater as air temperature increased but reduced following eastward air travel. Underestimation of demands in FIXED vs ROLL over 60-420 s epochs was confirmed. Such climatic and travel influences warrant the adoption of strategies targeted at maximising performance and safety according to the tournament conditions. Knowing the most demanding periods of match-play facilitates training specificity. |
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| Keywords: |
Activity profiles; Environment; Monitoring; Team sport; Temperature; Time-zone |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Swansea University. |
| Issue: |
7 |
| Start Page: |
1094 |
| End Page: |
1101 |