The relationship between physical abilities, ball-carrying and tackling among elite youth rugby league players
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between the physical abilities of adolescent rugby league players and tackling and ball-carrying skills performed during matches, across three seasons (under-15 to under-17). The players were measured each season for acceleration (10–30 m), peak and mean speed (10–30 m), sprinting force (10–30 m), aerobic power, counter-movement jump (CMJ) height and jumping power. The matches were filmed and analysed for ball-carrying and tackling frequency per minute (successful and unsuccessful outcomes). There were strong relationships between successful carries∙min–1 and 10 m force in the under-15 (R = 0.61, P < 0.001), under-16 (R = 0.69, P < 0.001) and under-17 groups (R = 0.64, P < 0.001). There were also strong and moderate relationships between predicted vertical power and successful carries∙min–1 in the under-15 (R = 0.63, P = 0.011) and under-17 group (R = 0.40, P = 0.030), respectively. There were no relationships between carries or tackles and any other performance indicators. These findings suggest that acceleration, in accordance with gains in body mass, support ball-carrying but not tackling performance. Performance measurements, such as CMJ or aerobic power, do not support ball-carrying ability among youth rugby league players.Citation
Waldron, M., Worsfold, P., Twist, C., & Lamb, K. (2014). The relationship between physical abilities, ball-carrying and tackling among elite youth rugby league players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(6), 542-549. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2013.841975Publisher
Taylor & FrancisJournal
Journal of Sports SciencesAdditional Links
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24070519http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2013.841975
Type
ArticleLanguage
enEISSN
1466-447Xae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/02640414.2013.841975
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