Factors Affecting the Anthropometric and Physical Characteristics of Elite Academy Rugby League Players: A Multiclub Study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the factors affecting the anthropometric and physical characteristics of elite academy rugby league players. Methods: One hundred ninety-seven elite academy rugby league players (age = 17.3 [1.0] y) from 5 Super League clubs completed measures of anthropometric and physical characteristics during a competitive season. The interaction between and influence of contextual factors on characteristics was assessed using linear mixed modeling. Results: All physical characteristics improved during preseason and continued to improve until midseason, whereafter 10-m sprint (η2 = .20 cf .25), countermovement jump (CMJ) (η2 = .28 cf .30), and prone Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery (Yo-Yo IR) test (η2 = .22 cf .54) performance declined. Second (η2 = .17) and third (η2 = .16) -year players were heavier than first-years, whereas third-years had slower 10-m sprint times (η2 = .22). Large positional variability was observed for body mass, 20-m sprint time, medicine-ball throw, CMJ, and prone Yo-Yo IR1. Compared with bottom-ranked teams, top-ranked teams demonstrated superior 20-m (η2 = −.22) and prone Yo-Yo IR1 (η2 = .26) performance, whereas middle-ranked teams reported higher CMJ height (η2 = .26) and prone Yo-Yo IR1 distance (η2 = .20) but slower 20-m sprint times (η2 = .20). Conclusion: These findings offer practitioners who design training programs for academy rugby league players insight into the relationships between anthropometric and physical characteristics and how they are influenced by playing year, league ranking, position, and season phase.

Training Practices of Academy Rugby League and their Alignment to Physical Qualities Deemed Important for Current and Future Performance

“…51 The primary objective of pre-season is to develop the physical characteristics of players 52 in preparation for the upcoming season. 10 In addition, pre-season training phase has been found to positively influence changes in body composition 10 and physical qualities 13 in U19 rugby league players. Tactical training volume during in-season (late) was significantly greater than during the pre-season period.…”

“…[8][9][10] In order to develop rugby league players for elite competition, understanding the performance and development of physical qualities is essential. There are several studies available that describe the physical qualities of rugby league players, 1,9,[11][12][13] and their associations with match performance. 14 Height and body mass have been found to successfully categorise between playing position and level 1 and positively influence selection between elite and sub-elite categories in under-16 (U16) players.…”

The Effects of In-Season, Low-Volume Sprint Interval Training With and Without Sport-Specific Actions on the Physical Characteristics of Elite Academy Rugby League Players

“…Finally, our results also revealed that incorporating SIT training within the competitive season is feasible without compromising athlete wellbeing or neuromuscular function, and should be consider by practitioners, particularly during the latter stages where some physical characteristics might deteriorate. 3…”

“…1 These characteristics are essential for players to succeed 1 and should be central to rugby league conditioning practices. 2 Developing the physical characteristics of rugby league players is the focus of preseason; 3,4 thereafter emphasis is placed on recovery, technical and tactical development, and match preparations. 5 This change in focus and reduced exposure to maximal-intensity work during training might explain the observed reductions in physical characteristics such as high-intensity intermittent running ability, sprint speed and lower-body power during the latter stages of a ~28-week season.…”

“…5 This change in focus and reduced exposure to maximal-intensity work during training might explain the observed reductions in physical characteristics such as high-intensity intermittent running ability, sprint speed and lower-body power during the latter stages of a ~28-week season. 3 Considering the importance often placed on the final stages of the season (i.e. finals), finding an effective strategy to maintain key performance characteristics could be particularly beneficial.…”