In-Season Assessment of Sprint Speed and Sprint Momentum in Rugby Players According to the Age Category and Playing Position

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interval in which male rugby union players reach maximum speed in a 50 m sprint according to age categories and playing positions. This study also aimed to establish the optimal distance for the assessment of sprint speed and to compare the differences in anthropometrics, sprint and sprint momentum according to the age and playing position. Three hundred amateur rugby players performed anthropometric and physical fitness tests (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 m sprint times, acceleration, velocity, and sprint momentum) during the in-season period. Participants from different age categories (under 14’s (U14), under 16’s (U16), under 18’s (U18) and Seniors) and positions (forwards and backs) volunteered to participate in this study. Results revealed that most of the U14 and U16 players (58.2% and 55.3%, respectively) reached maximum speed in the interval between 20 and 30 m with lower sprint speed than U18 players and Seniors (44% and 49%, respectively). Comparisons between each interval showed significant differences for all U14 and U16 forwards, suggesting the fastest interval was between 20-30 m. No significant differences were found for U16 backs, U18 and Seniors, between sprint times in the 20-30 m and 3040 m intervals. In addition, between-group comparisons, demonstrated significant (p < 0.001) differences in U14 when compared to U16, U18 and Seniors in anthropometric variables, sprint times and sprint momentum. In conclusion, this study suggests that the optimal distance for the assessment of sprint speed of rugby players is 30 m and that body mass, sprint momentum and sprint speed clearly discriminate between players of different age categories and playing positions.

The anthropometric, physical, and relative age characteristics of an English Premiership rugby union academy

“…This can be explained by the fact that at an older age, both positions accumulated enough sprint training to mitigate acceleration discrepancies on short distances. These findings on positional differences are in line with previous works (38,59) and indicate that if academy players attempt to be classified as a forward, they need to possess exceptional momentum characteristics over both 10 m and 20 m distances. Altogether, it is possible to say that academy RU players should possess an optimal combination of body mass and speed and that sprint momentum should be trained over 10 and 20 m regardless age and playing position.…”

“…Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to evaluate these characteristics in an English Premiership RU academy across multiple age categories (i.e., U16, U18, and U21) and playing positions (i.e., forwards and backs). Similar to previous literature (11,59), key findings revealed how anthropometric (i.e., body mass and height) and physical (i.e., power, momentum and aerobic capacity) characteristics differed across the three age groups. Results based on positional differences showed forwards were generally heavier, taller, stronger, more powerful, and more disruptive when compared to backs.…”

“…However, this was slightly dissimilar to that found in the English academy (11), since they reported statistical significance differences among all age groups (i.e., U16<U18<U21), whereas we only found it in some (i.e., U16<U21). Similarly, Zabaloy and colleagues (59) showed how younger Argentinian forwards possessed inferior sprint momentum compared to their older counterparts (i.e., U14<U16<U18<Senior). Thus, from the results of the present study, it could be speculated that forwards should train accelerations and impacts on longer (i.e., 20 m) distances.…”

Acute Effects on Physical Performance Measures after 45 Min of Official Competition in Youth Soccer Players

“…The players were also instructed not to make any type of backward movement with their upper body or feet, so as not to inadvertently trigger the first timing gate. This distance was selected, because it has been reported as the optimal distance to assess maximum sprint speed [ 33 ].…”

Strength Deficit in Elite Young Rugby Players: Differences Between Playing Positions and Associations With Sprint and Jump Performance

“…For example, forwards are usually heavier, taller, and exhibit a greater body fat percentage than backs (7,9,13). Moreover, previous research (7) in young rugby players reported greater sprint velocities for backs compared with forwards, in different split distances from 10 to 40 m, with maximum velocity ( V max ) being a discriminant factor across age categories (7,31). Regarding strength, published data indicate that forwards possess greater absolute values in comparison to backs, which may be partially explained by their larger body mass (BM) (29,32).…”