Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
18
Issue
24
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
42695
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 (proagility, 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.
DOI
10.3390/ijerph182413390
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Freitas, T. T., Alcaraz, P. E., Calleja-González, J., Arruda, A. F. S., Guerriero, A., Mercer, V. P., . . . Loturco, I. (2021). Influence of physical and technical aspects on change of direction performance of rugby players: An exploratory study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), article 13390.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413390