Key Performance Indicators and Predictors in Varsity Cup Rugby By: NICOLA SEWRY (SWRNIC009) SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Exercise Science (MSc (Med) in Exercise Science) UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UniversityUNIVERSITY of OF CAPECape TOWN Town Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road Newlands 7700, South Africa 2014 Supervisor: Professor Michael I. Lambert, PhD UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town Key Performance Indicators and Predictors in Varsity Cup Rugby Ms Nicola Ann Sewry BSc (Med) Hons in Exercise Science (Biokinetics), CSCS Master of Science in Exercise Science Department of Human Biology, Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town Correspondence: Nicola Ann Sewry Department of Human Biology, Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town 3rd Floor Sports Science Institute of South Africa Boundary Road Newlands, 7700 Cape Town South Africa Tell: +(27) 21 6595639 Email: [email protected] 2 Contents Page Declaration ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. 8 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ 11 Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Literature Review.......................................................................................................................... 14 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 14 Demands of Rugby Union ........................................................................................................ 16 Challenges of Tournaments ...................................................................................................... 19 Fitness Characteristics .............................................................................................................. 20 Anthropometry ...................................................................................................................... 20 Body Mass ............................................................................................................................. 20 Stature ................................................................................................................................... 21 Body Fat Percentage............................................................................................................. 21 Muscular Strength ................................................................................................................. 22 Lower Body Explosive Power .............................................................................................. 23 Local Muscular Endurance ................................................................................................... 23 Speed ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Aerobic Endurance................................................................................................................ 25 Coaches’ Perceptions and Attitudes.......................................................................................... 26 Video Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 27 Synopsis ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Aims .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Hypothesis..................................................................................................................................... 30 3 Methods......................................................................................................................................... 31 Experimental Approach ............................................................................................................ 31 Session RPE .............................................................................................................................. 32 Heart Rate Intermittent Monitoring System ............................................................................. 32 Heart Rate Intermittent Monitoring System Protocol ........................................................... 32 Weight ....................................................................................................................................... 32 Anthropometry .......................................................................................................................... 33 Stature ................................................................................................................................... 33 Sum of 4 Skinfolds ................................................................................................................. 33 Body Fat % ........................................................................................................................... 34 Muscular Strength ..................................................................................................................... 34 1RM Bench press .................................................................................................................. 34 Sprinting .................................................................................................................................... 35 10 m and 40 m Sprint Times ................................................................................................. 35 Local Muscular Endurance ....................................................................................................... 35 Maximum Pull-ups ................................................................................................................ 35 Aerobic Endurance.................................................................................................................... 35 Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test ......................................................................................... 35 Coaches’ Ratings ...................................................................................................................... 36 Video Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 36 Statistics .................................................................................................................................... 38 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Physical Characteristics ............................................................................................................ 40 Heart Rate and Session Load .................................................................................................... 40 Heart Rate Recovery and Session Load ................................................................................ 40 Changes in Physical Characteristics: Pre-Pre-Season ............................................................... 42 4 Relationships between Physiological Characteristics and the Corresponding Changes over Pre- Pre-Season and Pre-Season ....................................................................................................... 44 Body Mass Variation ................................................................................................................ 47 Average Player Body Mass ................................................................................................... 47 Physiological Variables and Playing Time ............................................................................... 48 Coaches’ Ratings ...................................................................................................................... 49 Coaches’ Average Ratings over the Season.......................................................................... 49 Coaches’ Ratings Regarding Selection and Non-Selection .................................................. 57 Coach 3 (Head Coach) Pre- and Post-Match