Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify between-position (forwards vs. backs) differences in
movement variability in cumulative tackle events training during both attacking and defensive roles. Eleven
elite adolescent male rugby league players volunteered to participate in this study (mean ± SD, age;
18.5 ± 0.5 years, height; 179.5 ± 5.0 cm, body mass; 88.3 ± 13.0 kg). Participants performed a drill
encompassing four blocks of six tackling (i.e. tackling an opponent) and six tackled (i.e. being tackled by an
opponent while carrying a ball) events (i.e. 48 total tackles) while wearing a micro-technological inertial
measurement unit (WIMU, Realtrack Systems, Spain). The acceleration data were used to calculate sample
entropy (SampEn) to analyse the movement variability during tackles performance. In tackling actions SampEn
showed significant between-position differences in block 1 (p = 0.0001) and block 2 (p = 0.0003). Significant
between-block differences were observed in backs (block 1 vs 3, p = 0,0021; and block 1 vs 4, p = 0,0001)
but not in forwards. When being tackled, SampEn showed significant between-position differences in block
1 (p = 0.0007) and block 3 (p = 0.0118). Significant between-block differences were only observed for backs
in block 1 vs 4 (p = 0,0025). Movement variability shows a progressive reduction with cumulative tackle events,
especially in backs and when in the defensive role (tackling). Forwards present lower movement variability
values in all blocks, particularly in the first block, both in the attacking and defensive role. Entropy measures
can be used by practitioners as an alternative tool to analyse the temporal structure of variability of tackle
actions and quantify the load of these actions according to playing position.
movement variability in cumulative tackle events training during both attacking and defensive roles. Eleven
elite adolescent male rugby league players volunteered to participate in this study (mean ± SD, age;
18.5 ± 0.5 years, height; 179.5 ± 5.0 cm, body mass; 88.3 ± 13.0 kg). Participants performed a drill
encompassing four blocks of six tackling (i.e. tackling an opponent) and six tackled (i.e. being tackled by an
opponent while carrying a ball) events (i.e. 48 total tackles) while wearing a micro-technological inertial
measurement unit (WIMU, Realtrack Systems, Spain). The acceleration data were used to calculate sample
entropy (SampEn) to analyse the movement variability during tackles performance. In tackling actions SampEn
showed significant between-position differences in block 1 (p = 0.0001) and block 2 (p = 0.0003). Significant
between-block differences were observed in backs (block 1 vs 3, p = 0,0021; and block 1 vs 4, p = 0,0001)
but not in forwards. When being tackled, SampEn showed significant between-position differences in block
1 (p = 0.0007) and block 3 (p = 0.0118). Significant between-block differences were only observed for backs
in block 1 vs 4 (p = 0,0025). Movement variability shows a progressive reduction with cumulative tackle events,
especially in backs and when in the defensive role (tackling). Forwards present lower movement variability
values in all blocks, particularly in the first block, both in the attacking and defensive role. Entropy measures
can be used by practitioners as an alternative tool to analyse the temporal structure of variability of tackle
actions and quantify the load of these actions according to playing position.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 161-170 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Biology of Sport |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 18 Feb 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2023 |
Keywords
- Dynamical systems
- Measurement
- Motor Control
- Team Sport
- Technology