Rugby sevens, a sport new to the Olympics, features high-intensity intermittent running and contact efforts more than short match durations, normally 6 times across 2 to 3 d in a tournament format. Elite rugby sevens seasons often include over a dozen competitive tournaments over less than 9 months, demanding deliberate and careful training-stress balance and workload management alongside development of the necessary physical qualities required for competition. Focus on running and repeated power skills, strength, and match-specific conditioning capacities is advised. Partial taper approaches in combination with high-speed running (>5 m/s from GPS measures) before and between tournaments in succession may reduce injury rates and enhance performance. In a sport with substantial long-haul intercontinental travel and repetitive chronic load demands, management of logistics including nutrition and recovery is inclusive of the formula for success in the physical preparation of elite rugby sevens athletes.
The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in performance and heart rate responses between a high heat outdoor condition (34.0°C, 64.1% humidity) and a temperate indoor condition (22.0°C, 50.0% humidity) during the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (30-15IFT). Eight highly trained Rugby Union players (28.1 ± 1.5 years, 181.4 ± 8.8 cm, 88.4 ± 13.3kg) completed the 30-15IFT in two different temperature conditions. Dependant variables recorded and analysed included; final running speed of the 30-15IFT, heart rate (HR) at rest (HR rest), maximum HR (Max HR), HR recovery (HRR), average HR (HR ave) and sub-maximal HR corresponding to 25%, 50% and 75% of final test speed (HR 25%, HR 50% and HR 75%) and HR at 13 km·h (HR 13 km·h). Greater running speeds were achieved when the test was conducted indoors (19.4 ± 0.7 km·h vs. 18.6 ± 0.6 km·h, p = 0.002, d = 1.67). HR ave and HR 13 km·h were greater when the test was conducted outdoors (p < 0.05, d > 0.85). Large effect sizes were observed for the greater HR at submaximal intensities (d > 0.90). The results of this study highlight the influence of temperature on 30-15IFT performance and cardiac responses. It is recommended that prescription of training based on 30-15IFT results reflects the temperature that the training will be performed in and that practitioners acknowledge that a meaningful change in assessment results can be the result of seasonal temperature change rather than training induced change.
Background-High volume power training (HVPT) involves high volumes of high velocity resistance training, with the aim to improve repeated high intensity efforts (RHIE). Repeat power ability (RPA) is the ability to repeatedly produce maximal or near maximal efforts. Assessments of RPA using external loading may determine the ability to perform repeat high intensity efforts (RHIEs) typical of many sports and therefore provide useful information on the effectiveness of training.Objectives-1) Identify the different HVPT protocols; 2) Examine the acute responses and chronic adaptations to different HVPT protocols; 3) Identify different lower body RPA assessment protocols and highlight similarities, differences and potential limitations between each protocol, and; 4) describe the reliability and validity of RPA assessments.Methods-An electronic search was performed using SportDiscus, PubMed, CINAHL and Embase for studies utilising HVPT protocols and assessments of RPA. Eligible studies included peer reviewed journal articles published in English.Results-Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria of the final review. Of the eight longitudinal studies, three were rated as fair and five were rated as poor methodological quality, respectively. In contrast, all 12 cross-sectional studies were considered to have a low risk of bias. Preliminary evidence suggests that HVPT can enhance RHIE, RPA, anaerobic capacity, anaerobic power and aerobic performance. HVPT generally consists of 2-3 sessions per week, utilising loads of 30-40% 1 repetition maximum (RM), for 3-5 sets of 10-20 repetitions, with inter set rest periods of 2-3 minutes. RPA assessments can be valid and reliable and may provide useful information on an athlete's ability to perform RHIE and the success of HVPT programmes.The effect of HVPT on RHIE and RPA 3 This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Sports Medicine.
Background Repeat power ability (RPA) assessments are a valuable evaluation of an athlete’s ability to repeatedly perform high intensity movements. Establishing the most reliable and valid loaded jump RPA assessment and method to quantify RPA has yet to be determined. This study aimed to compare the reliability and validity of an RPA assessment performed with loaded squat jumps (SJ) or countermovement jumps (CMJ) using force-time derived mean and peak power output. Materials and Methods RPA was quantified using calculations of average power output, a fatigue index and a percent decrement score for all repetitions and with the first and last repetitions removed. Validity was established by comparing to a 30 second Bosco repeated jump test (30BJT). Eleven well-trained male field hockey players performed one set of 20 repetitions of both SJs (20SJ) and CMJs (20CMJ) on separate occasions using a 30% one repetition maximum half squat load. These assessments were repeated 7 days apart to establish inter-test reliability. On a separate occasion, each participant performed the 30BJT. Results The reliability of average peak power for 20SJ and 20CMJ was acceptable (CV < 5%; ICC > 0.9), while average mean power reliability for 20CMJ (CV < 5%; ICC > 0.9) was better than 20SJ (CV > 5%; ICC > 0.8). Percent decrement of 20CMJ peak power, with the first and final jump removed from the percent decrement calculation (PD%CMJpeak18), was the most reliable measurement of power output decline (CV < 5 %; ICC > 0.8). Average mean and peak power for both RPA protocols had moderate to strong correlations with 30BJT average mean and peak power (r = 0.5–0.8; p< 0.05–0.01). No RPA measurements of power decline were significantly related to BJT measurements of power decline. Conclusions These findings indicate that PD%CMJpeak18 is the most reliable measure of RPA power decline. The lack of relationship between power decline in the loaded RPA and the 30BJT assessment suggest that each assessment may be measuring a different physical quality. These results provide sport science practitioners with additional methods to assess RPA and provide useful information on the reliability and validity of these outcome measures. Additional research needs to be performed to examine the reliability and validity of the novel RPA assessments in other athletic populations and to determine the sensitivity of these measurements to training and injury.
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