Effects of Traditional vs . Game-Situational Sprint Training in Elite Rugby League Players

1. Effects of Traditional vs. Game-Situational Sprint Training in Elite Rugby League Players Laurent B. Seitzand G. Gregory Haff 1Edith Cowan University - Centre for Exercise and Sport Science Research - Joondalup, Australia Introduction Purpose Methods Introduction The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of 7 weeks of traditional vs. game-situational sprint training on sprint performance, with and without a ball in hand, of junior elite rugby league players. Subjects Twenty elite junior rugby league players (18.4 ± 0.9 y, 182.3 ± 7.4 cm, 81.6 ± 11.7 kg) from the French rugby league academy took part in this investigation. Players were randomly allocated to either a traditional sprint-training group (n=10) or a game-situational sprint training group (n=10). Both groups performed identical sprint exercises (i.e., similar distances, number of sprints/sets per session, rest between sprints/sets and patterns), however, the traditional sprint training group performed the sprints without a ball in hand whereas the players of the game-situational sprint training group were required to catch and carry the ball under one arm during each sprint. The training intervention took place during the pre-season and consisted of one sprint session per week. Testing In order to assess changes in sprint performance, all players performed three 20-m sprints with and without the ball (six sprints in total), in a randomized order, three days before (baseline) and after (post-training) the 7-week training intervention. The fastest sprint from each condition at baseline and post-training was used for further analysis. During baseline testing session, the players were allowed to choose the arm under which they carried the ball, which remained the same in post-training testing. Speed was measured using electronic timing gates (Microgate Photocell, Bolzano, Italy) positioned at 20 m from the start line. All participants initiated the sprint in their own time from a semi-crouched position with the front foot 10 cm from the start line. This starting position has been previously used with these athletes to assess sprint performance and has been shown to be highly reliable (ICC= 0.90-0.91) (6). The interclass correlation coefficients for the 20-m sprint in the present study was 0.92. All procedures in this study were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia. All players signed an informed consent form. Statistical analyses A three-way (group × time × condition) factorial ANOVA was performed to compare changes in sprint performance with and without the ball, and before and after the training intervention for both traditional and game-situational sprint training groups. Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni corrections were performed when significant interaction effect was detected. All the statistical analyses were performed on STATA 9.1 for Windows (Stata Corp. College Station, TX, USA) and the level of significance was set at p  0.05. Including speed training in the conditioning programs of rugby league players is of importance as sprint performance has been shown to discriminate between elite and sub-elite players and, starters and non-starters (1)and because rugby league players can perform up to 39 sprints during a professional game (2). There is a large volume of published studies advocating the use of game-situational training in order to closely replicate conditions that occur during the competitive environment within training (3,4,5). Such training is of practical interest for coaches and the strength and conditioning professionals as it should promote an effective transfer to the athletes’ competitive environment. With respect to rugby league, a game-situational training exercise would be one in which sprints were performed while carrying a ball in hand, due to a recent study showing that players perform up to 30% of their sprints with the ball in hand during a professional game (2). Therefore, research comparing the effects of traditional vs. game situational sprint training on the sprint performance of rugby league players, with and without a ball in hand, is warranted. Table 1. Anthropometric characteristics of the subjects. Results Conclusions Practical Applications Conclusions Conclusion Following the 7 weeks training intervention, the traditional and game-situational sprint training groups experienced similar improvements in 20-m sprint time regardless of the condition under which the sprints were performed (Tables 1, 2 and 3). • Game-situational sprint training (i.e. sprinting with a ball under one arm), together with regular technical and tactical training, is as effective as traditional sprint training (i.e. sprinting without a ball under one arm) for improving the 20-m sprint performance, with and without the ball, of elite rugby league players. • Future research should investigate whether performing game-situational sprint training can also improve the technical and tactical skills of the players and whether non-rugby league players exhibit a similar percentage reduction in sprint time while carrying the ball in hand. This control comparison to experienced rugby league players would detail the extent to which this task (sprinting with a ball in hand) is learned. Coaches and strength and conditioning coaches can use game-situational sprint training (i.e. sprinting with a ball under one arm) to improve the sprint performance of elite rugby league players to the same magnitude as traditional sprint training. This is particularly of interest during congested training and playing schedules as the sprint performance of the players can be improved using game-situational exercises that occur during a game. Results Table 2. 20-m sprint time performance of the traditional training group before and after the training intervention References Contact Table 3. 20-m sprint time performance of the game-situational training group before and after the training intervention Laurent B. Seitz l.seitz@ecu.edu.au • Gabbett T, Kelly J, Ralph S, and Driscoll D. Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of junior elite and sub-elite rugby league players, with special reference to starters and non-starters. J Sci Med Sport 12: 215-222, 2009. • Gabbett T. Sprinting patterns of national rugby league competition. J Strength Cond Res 26: 121-130, 2012. • Chamari K, Hachana Y, Kaouech F, Jeddi R, Moussa-Chamari I, and Wisløff U. Endurance training and testing with the ball in young elite soccer players. Br J Sports Med 39: 24-28, 2005. • Hoff J, Wisløff U, Engen L, Kemi O, and Helgerud J. Soccer specific aerobic endurance training. Br J Sports Med 36: 218-221, 2002. • McMillan K, Helgerud J, Macdonald R, and Hoff J. Physiological adaptations to soccer specific endurance training in professional youth soccer players. Br J Sports Med 39: 273-277, 2005. • Seitz L, Rivière M, Sáez de Villarreal E, and Haff G. The athletic performance of elite rugby league players is improved after an 8-week small-sided game training intervention. J Strength Cond Res, Published Ahead of Print, July 2013. Table 4. Percent improvement in 20-m sprint time following the training intervention A special thanks to athletes and staff of the French Rugby League Academy for their cooperation and participation in this research.