There is a complex interaction between numerous contextual factors that influence the match demands that are discussed in this review. Whilst players must have the physical capacities to cope with the intense physical demands of AF matches, the successful execution of technical skills during match-play is central to success. To develop these skills and attributes, specific and carefully planned and monitored training must be performed over a number of years.

No abstract

This systematic review highlighted a number of simple and effective workload-monitoring techniques implemented across a variety of throwing-dominant sports. The current literature placed an emphasis on the relationship between workload and injury. However, due to differences in chronological and training age, inconsistent injury definitions and time frames used for monitoring, injury thresholds remain unclear in throwing-dominant sports. Furthermore, although research has examined total workload, the intensity of workload is often neglected. Additional research on the reliability of self-reported workload data is also required to validate existing relationships between workload and injury. Considering the existing disparity within the literature, it is likely that throwing-dominant sports would benefit from the development of an automated monitoring tool to objectively assess throwing-related workloads in conjunction with well-established internal measures of load in athletes.

These findings highlight the RHIE demands of elite and semielite rugby league match play. Elite players are more likely to perform RHIE bouts consisting of 3 efforts and to have a shorter recovery time between bouts. Exposing players to these RHIE demands in training is likely to improve their ability to tolerate the most demanding passages of match play.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between technical involvements and (1) winning margins,(2) losing margins and (3) ladder position in the national Australian Football League Women's competition (AFLW). Methods:The first season of AFLW technical data were analysed. All matches (n = 26) were separated into winning and losing subsets and score margins were recorded. To investigate the influence of technical involvements on overall performance, final ladder position was also recorded.Results: Uncontested possessions and the ratio between the number of times the ball was inside the attacking 50-m zone (inside 50s) and goals scored, were identified as the biggest predictors of match outcomes in the AFLW. Larger winning margins were associated with reduced marks "inside 50" and a lower inside 50: goals scored ratio. Kicks and contested marks demonstrated significant relationships with final ladder position, with these involvements decreasing as the ladder position moved closer to eight. Conclusions:Team game plans should promote the importance of finding space and completing a number of passes in the attacking 50-m zone to allow closer shots on goal. Further to this, coaches may need to draft players who are able to "win" marking contests to improve ladder position in the future seasons.