Energetic Demands of Interchange and Full-Match Rugby League Players. Issue 12 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cummins, Cloe J.; Gray, Adrian J.; Shorter, Kathleen A.; Halaki, Mark; Orr, Rhonda
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 32:Issue 12(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: energy cost -- metabolic power -- match analysis -- Global Positioning System and rugby league; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Cummins, CJ, Gray, AJ, Shorter, KA, Halaki, M, and Orr, R. Energetic demands of interchange and full-match rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3456–3464, 2018—The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the metabolic demands of rugby league for interchange and full-match players in relation to positional groups. Eighteen elite rugby league players were recruited. A time-motion model was used to estimate the energy expenditure and metabolic demands of rugby league match-play using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. This approach uses players' GPS velocity-time curves to examine running velocity. Players were categorized into positional groups (outside backs, adjustables, wide-running, and hit-up forwards) and then further categorized into full-match or interchange players. Compared with their full-match counterparts, interchange wide-running forwards expended greater energy (43.1 ± 6.1 vs. 28.6 ± 7.5 kJ·kg −1, p ⩽ 0.001, effect size [ES] = −2.38) and produced a higher anaerobic index ( p = 0.016, ES = 0.56) and mean power (7.4%, p = 0.003, ES = 0.66) per match. Full-match adjustables expended 94.8% more energy ( p ⩽ 0.001, ES = −2.3) and performed more moderate accelerations (10.1%, p = 0.014, ES = −0.57) and decelerations (7.6%, p = 0.017, ES = −0.8), than their interchange counterparts. Outside backs did not interchange and hit-up forwards rarely ( n = 2) played an entire match. Differing metabolic demands were identified for interchange and full-match players across positional groups, suggesting position-specific conditioning drills are required to model the energetic demands of match-play.