This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8‐week neuromuscular training protocol on dynamic neuromuscular control and physical performance. Twenty female court‐sport athletes were randomly allocated to two groups, a control (n = 10) and an intervention group (n = 10). All participants performed pre‐testing inclusive of a 20‐m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), Illinois agility test, and the qualitative analysis of a single‐leg squat (QASLS), which is an assessment of dynamic neuromuscular control. Subsequently the intervention group engaged in a modified version of the FIFA 11+ neuromuscular training program twice weekly for 8 weeks. At post‐testing, there were between‐group differences in CMJ (intervention; +3.96‐cm vs control; −1.36‐cm, P = .003) and QASLS for both legs (P < .001) (right leg, intervention; pre: 3.75, post: 1.91, and control; pre: 4.11, post: 4.08) (left leg, intervention; pre: 3.72, post: 0.98, and control; pre: 4.05, post: 4.23). There was a within‐group improvement in 20‐m sprint for the intervention group only post‐training (pre: 3.69‐seconds; post: 3.60‐seconds, P = .043), while no differences occurred in Illinois agility test for either group. A modified FIFA 11+ protocol can be considered an effective neuromuscular training program for enhancing dynamic neuromuscular control and sport‐specific physical performance in female court‐sport athletes.

This study aimed to assess warm-up practices within professional and amateur Rugby League players, specifically to determine players’ perceptions why particular methods were used and discover whether any differences existed in warm-up practices and perceptions between the two separate standards. The study used a 10 question online questionnaire to investigate 30 professional and 53 amateur players warm-up protocols and their perceptions behind their practices. To provide a richer understanding regarding the practices and perceptions surrounding warm-up protocols, the questionnaire was followed by two focus groups (professionals and amateurs), which included four participants in each. Following analysis of the questionnaire responses, it was discovered that professional players warm-up protocols were significantly longer in duration than amateur players (P = 0.009). However, for all other variables assessed including; specific warm-up protocols, static stretch duration, and perceptions and beliefs concerning warm-up protocols, there were no significant differences between professionals and amateurs. Overall findings demonstrated the widespread use of static stretching within warm-up for both professionals and amateurs; 71 of 83 players (86%) reported usage. It was also highlighted that injury prevention was the most commonly perceived benefit from performing a warm-up across both standards [(Professional; 15 of 30, 50%) (Amateur; 27 of 53, 51%)]. Findings from the focus group generally supported questionnaire responses, and it was identified that the warm-up practices and protocols of Rugby League players were influenced by others such as coaches and strength and conditioning coaches which emphasises the importance of the role such practitioners.