Implementation of a mixed-methods heat acclimation programme in a professional soccer referee before the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar: a case study.

Objectives: This case study reports the real-world practicalities of implementing a mixed-methods heat acclimation (HA) programme before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Methods: One male English soccer referee (age: 44 years; height: 1.82 m; body mass: 76.

Physiological and perceptual responses of wearing a dryrobe for rewarming after passive cold-water immersion in men.

Objectives: To investigate the physiological and perceptual responses to wearing a dryrobe for rewarming after passive cold-water immersion (CWI).

Methods: 15 unhabituated healthy Caucasian men (age: 28.9 (5.

Validity of the Hawkin Dynamics Wireless Dual Force Platform System Against a Piezoelectric Laboratory Grade System for Vertical Countermovement Jump Variables.

Dos'Santos, T, Evans, DT, and Read, DB. Validity of the Hawkin dynamics wireless dual force platform system against a piezoelectric laboratory grade system for vertical countermovement jump variables. J Strength Cond Res 38(6): 1144-1148, 2024-The aim of this study was to determine the criterion validity of the Hawkin Dynamics (HD) wireless dual force platform system for assessing vertical countermovement jump (CMJ) variables, compared with those derived from a Kistler piezoelectric laboratory grade force platform system.

The Effect of Feedback on Resistance Training Performance and Adaptations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Augmented feedback is often used during resistance training to enhance acute physical performance and has shown promise as a method of improving chronic physical adaptation. However, there are inconsistencies in the scientific literature regarding the magnitude of the acute and chronic responses to feedback and the optimal method with which it is provided.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (1) establish the evidence for the effects of feedback on acute resistance training performance and chronic training adaptations; (2) quantify the effects of feedback on acute kinematic outcomes and changes in physical adaptations; and (3) assess the effects of moderating factors on the influence of feedback during resistance training.

The effects of travel on performance: a 13-year analysis of the National Rugby League (NRL) competition.

The purpose was to investigate the effects of travel on performance in the National Rugby League (NRL). A total of 4,704 observations from 2,352 NRL matches (2007-2019) were analysed. The effect of travel on match outcome (i.

Applied Sport Science for Male Age-Grade Rugby Union in England.

Rugby union (RU) is a skill-collision team sport played at junior and senior levels worldwide. Within England, age-grade rugby governs the participation and talent development of youth players. The RU player development pathway has recently been questioned, regarding player performance and well-being, which sport science research can address.

"How Am I Going, Coach?"-The Effect of Augmented Feedback During Small-Sided Games on Locomotor, Physiological, and Perceptual Responses.

Purpose: To investigate whether providing global positioning system feedback to players between bouts of small-sided games (SSGs) can alter locomotor, physiological, and perceptual responses.

Methods: Using a reverse counterbalanced design, 20 male university rugby players received either feedback or no feedback during "off-side" touch rugby SSGs. Eight 5v5, 6 × 4-minute SSGs were played over 4 d.

Jump Training in Rugby Union Players: Barbell or Hexagonal Bar?

Weakley, JJS, Till, K, Read, DB, Leduc, C, Roe, GAB, Phibbs, PJ, Darrall-Jones, J, and Jones, B. Jump training in rugby union players: barbell or hexagonal bar?. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 754-761, 2021-The countermovement jump (CMJ) is an exercise that can develop athletic performance.

The Physical Characteristics of Specific Phases of Play During Rugby Union Match Play.

Purpose: To quantify the frequencies and timings of rugby union match-play phases (ie, attacking, defending, ball in play [BIP], and ball out of play [BOP]) and then compare the physical characteristics of attacking, defending, and BOP between forwards and backs.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 59 male rugby union academy players (259 observations). Each player wore a microtechnology device (OptimEye S5; Catapult, Melbourne, Australia) with video footage analyzed for phase timings and frequencies.

Organized Chaos in Late Specialization Team Sports: Weekly Training Loads of Elite Adolescent Rugby Union Players.

Phibbs, PJ, Jones, B, Roe, G, Read, DB, Darrall-Jones, J, Weakley, J, Rock, A, and Till, K. Organized chaos in late specialization team sports: weekly training loads of elite adolescent rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1316-1323, 2018-The aim of this study was to quantify the mean weekly training load (TL) of elite adolescent rugby union players participating in multiple teams and examine the differences between playing positions.

Collision activity during training increases total energy expenditure measured via doubly labelled water.

Purpose: Collision sports are characterised by frequent high-intensity collisions that induce substantial muscle damage, potentially increasing the energetic cost of recovery. Therefore, this study investigated the energetic cost of collision-based activity for the first time across any sport.

Methods: Using a randomised crossover design, six professional young male rugby league players completed two different 5-day pre-season training microcycles.

The Effects of Superset Configuration on Kinetic, Kinematic, and Perceived Exertion in the Barbell Bench Press.

Weakley, JJS, Till, K, Read, DB, Phibbs, PJ, Roe, G, Darrall-Jones, J, and Jones, BL. The effects of superset configuration on kinetic, kinematic, and perceived exertion in the barbell bench press. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 65-72, 2020-Training that is efficient and effective is of great importance to an athlete.

Visual Feedback Attenuates Mean Concentric Barbell Velocity Loss and Improves Motivation, Competitiveness, and Perceived Workload in Male Adolescent Athletes.

Weakley, JJS, Wilson, KM, Till, K, Read, DB, Darrall-Jones, J, Roe, GAB, Phibbs, PJ, and Jones, B. Visual feedback attenuates mean concentric barbell velocity loss and improves motivation, competitiveness, and perceived workload in male adolescent athletes. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2420-2425, 2019-It is unknown whether instantaneous visual feedback of resistance training outcomes can enhance barbell velocity in younger athletes.

The effects of traditional, superset, and tri-set resistance training structures on perceived intensity and physiological responses.

Purpose: Investigate the acute and short-term (i.e., 24 h) effects of traditional (TRAD), superset (SS), and tri-set (TRI) resistance training protocols on perceptions of intensity and physiological responses.

The appropriateness of training exposures for match-play preparation in adolescent schoolboy and academy rugby union players.

The aim of this study was to compare the physical and movement demands between training and match-play in schoolboy and academy adolescent rugby union (RU) players. Sixty-one adolescent male RU players (mean ± SD; age 17.0 ± 0.

The physical characteristics of match-play in English schoolboy and academy rugby union.

The aim was to compare the physical characteristics of under-18 academy and schoolboy rugby union competition by position (forwards and backs). Using a microsensor unit, match characteristics were recorded in 66 players. Locomotor characteristics were assessed by maximum sprint speed (MSS) and total, walking, jogging, striding and sprinting distances.

Validity of Daily and Weekly Self-Reported Training Load Measures in Adolescent Athletes.

Phibbs, PJ, Roe, G, Jones, B, Read, DB, Weakley, J, Darrall-Jones, J, and Till, K. Validity of daily and weekly self-reported training load measures in adolescent athletes. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 1121-1126, 2017-The primary aim of the study was to assess the level of agreement between the criterion session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE30min) and a practical measure of a self-reported Web-based training load questionnaire 24 hours after training (sRPE24h) in adolescent athletes.

The Influence of Resistance Training Experience on the Between-Day Reliability of Commonly Used Strength Measures in Male Youth Athletes.

Weakley, JJS, Till, K, Darrall-Jones, J, Roe, GAB, Phibbs, PJ, Read, DB, and Jones, BL. The influence of resistance training experience on the between-day reliability of commonly used strength measures in male youth athletes. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 2005-2010, 2017-The purpose of this study was to determine the between-day reliability of commonly used strength measures in male youth athletes while considering resistance training experience.

Strength and Conditioning Practices in Adolescent Rugby Players: Relationship With Changes in Physical Qualities.

Weakley, JJS, Till, K, Darrall-Jones, J, Roe, GAB, Phibbs, PJ, Read, DB, and Jones, BL. Strength and conditioning practices in adolescent rugby players: relationship with changes in physical qualities. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2361-2369, 2019-Adolescent rugby players benefit from the implementation of resistance training.

Physical Demands of Representative Match-Play in Adolescent Rugby Union.

Read, DB, Jones, B, Phibbs, PJ, Roe, GAB, Darrall-Jones, J, Weakley, JJS, and Till, K. Physical demands of representative match-play in adolescent rugby union. J Strength Cond Res 31(5): 1290-1296, 2017-The purpose of this study was to quantify the physical demands of representative adolescent rugby union match-play and investigate the difference between playing positions and age groups.

Changes in Adductor Strength After Competition in Academy Rugby Union Players.

This study determined the magnitude of change in adductor strength after a competitive match in academy rugby union players and examined the relationship between locomotive demands of match-play and changes in postmatch adductor strength. A within-subject repeated measures design was used. Fourteen academy rugby union players (age, 17.