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Step‐up variations are frequently used in sports performance to develop coordinated and powerful movements that transfer to running. This study aimed to quantify the kinetic characteristics of the first foot contact of four different step‐up variations. Ten professional rugby league players participated in this study and performed the Barbell One Box Step‐Up with Catch (BB1), Barbell Two Box Step‐Up (BB2), Vest Two Box Run (VEST) and Step‐Up Jump (JUMP) as part of routine in‐season strength training sessions during one season. Peak force, total impulse and maximal rate of force development (RFD) were measured from first foot contact on the step‐up box. Significantly greater peak force and RFD were observed in JUMP than any other variation (standardized mean difference; SMD: 3.9–5.5; p < 0.001). Total impulse was equal between JUMP and BB1, and significantly greater in JUMP than BB2 and VEST (SMD: 1.3–2.3; p < 0.001), and in BB1 than BB2 and VEST (SMD: 1.8–2.8; p < 0.001). Significantly larger peak force and RFD were observed in BB2 and VEST than BB1 (SMD: 0.6–0.7) and in total impulse in BB2 than VEST (SMD: 1.6) (p < 0.05). The results of this study highlight that step‐up exercise variations maximize different kinetic characteristics, which may transfer differently to athlete running performance. Highlights: The Step‐Up Jump variation was shown to produce the largest relative peak force, largest rate of force development (RFD) and equal largest total impulse and therefore may have the greatest transferability to maximal speed running through the maximization of the stance phase.The Barbell Two Box Step‐Up (BB2) and Vest Two Box Run (VEST), produced significantly greater peak relative force and RFD than the Barbell One Box Step‐Up with Catch (BB1) and therefore may have better transferability to acceleration ability.Coaches can use the findings of this study to assist their selection of step‐up variations that are best suited to develop running ability and should consider the testing results and individual requirements of each athlete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Firefighting is physically and mentally taxing and recruits are expected to have optimal health and fitness. However, physical fitness tends to decline following initial training, placing firefighters at an increased risk for stress and injury. Efforts are needed to engage and support firefighters in maintaining adequate health and fitness to withstand the rigorous demands of their occupation. This study examined the feasibility of TARP, a pragmatic strength and conditioning intervention for metropolitan‐based firefighters, delivered in collaboration with a professional National Rugby League club. Methods: A mixed‐methods approach was utilised to examine program implementation, recruitment and sample characteristics, intervention satisfaction and acceptability, and participants' response to the intervention. Evaluation measures included field notes taken during steering committee meetings, participant flow data, baseline and follow‐up outcome measures, self‐report questionnaires, and telephone interviews with a sample of participants. Results: Participants (N = 113) were predominantly men (82%) with a mean age of 43 ± 9.3 years and BMI of 26.6 ± 2.9 kg/m2. Program satisfaction was high (95% very satisfied or somewhat satisfied) among program completers (42% retention). Key strengths of the program included delivery through the professional sports club, quality of facilities and equipment, and scheduling flexibility. Future programs should consider incorporating education or training to support behaviour change maintenance and strategies to retain participants at follow‐up. Conclusions: Results provide valuable insights into the design and delivery of interventions for firefighters and demonstrate the importance of strong partnerships between community stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Firefighting is physically and mentally taxing and recruits are expected to have optimal health and fitness. However, physical fitness tends to decline following initial training, placing firefighters at an increased risk for stress and injury. Efforts are needed to engage and support firefighters in maintaining adequate health and fitness to withstand the rigorous demands of their occupation. This study examined the feasibility of TARP, a pragmatic strength and conditioning intervention for metropolitan‐based firefighters, delivered in collaboration with a professional National Rugby League club. Methods: A mixed‐methods approach was utilised to examine program implementation, recruitment and sample characteristics, intervention satisfaction and acceptability, and participants' response to the intervention. Evaluation measures included field notes taken during steering committee meetings, participant flow data, baseline and follow‐up outcome measures, self‐report questionnaires, and telephone interviews with a sample of participants. Results: Participants (N = 113) were predominantly men (82%) with a mean age of 43 ± 9.3 years and BMI of 26.6 ± 2.9 kg/m2. Program satisfaction was high (95% very satisfied or somewhat satisfied) among program completers (42% retention). Key strengths of the program included delivery through the professional sports club, quality of facilities and equipment, and scheduling flexibility. Future programs should consider incorporating education or training to support behaviour change maintenance and strategies to retain participants at follow‐up. Conclusions: Results provide valuable insights into the design and delivery of interventions for firefighters and demonstrate the importance of strong partnerships between community stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Glassbrook, DJ, Fuller, JT, Wade, JA, and Doyle, TLA. Not all physical performance tests are related to early season match running performance in professional rugby league. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1944–1950, 2022—This study aimed to determine which physical tests correlate with early season running performance. Sixteen professional rugby league players performed the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT), 1.2-km time trial, 1 repetition maximum (RM) barbell back squat, isometric midthigh pull (IMTP), countermovement jump (CMJ), barbell squat jump (SJ), and ballistic bench press throw (BBP). Bivariate Pearson's correlations and linear regression were used to compare physical tests with peak match running intensities recorded by a portable Global Positioning System and represented by peak match velocity and acceleration, as well as peak 1-, 4-, 6-, and 8-minute instantaneous acceleration/deceleration periods of play. Significant (p < 0.05) negative correlations (r = −0.55 to −0.60) were observed between the IFT and relative 1-, 4-, 6-, and 8-minute peaks, and between the relative 1RM back squat and relative 1-, 4-, 6-, and 8-minute peaks. Significant positive correlations (r = 0.52–0.84) were observed between the following physical tests and match performance pairs: IFT and peak acceleration; relative 1RM back squat and peak acceleration; SJ peak power (relative and absolute) and peak acceleration; CMJ peak force (relative and absolute) and peak acceleration; CMJ peak power (relative and absolute) and peak acceleration and 1-, 4-, 6-, and 8-minute peaks; and relative BBP peak power and peak velocity and peak acceleration. The results of this study highlight that not all generic tests of physical qualities are related to peak match running performance and only those with significant correlations are likely to be able to indicate how players may perform during match-play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Johnston, RD, Thornton, HR, Wade, JA, Devlin, P, and Duthie, GM. The distribution of match activities relative to the maximal mean intensities in professional rugby league and Australian football. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1360–1366, 2022—This study determined the distribution of distance, impulse, and accelerometer load accumulated at intensities relative to the maximal mean 1-minute peak intensity within professional rugby league and Australian football. Within 26 rugby league (n = 24 athletes) and 18 Australian football (n = 38 athletes) games, athletes wore global navigation satellite system devices (n = 608 match files). One-minute maximal mean values were calculated for each athlete per game for speed (m·minP−1P), accelerometer load (AU·minP−1P), and acceleration (m·sP−2P). Volumes for each parameter were calculated by multiplying by time, specifying total distance, accelerometer load, and impulse. The distribution of intensity of which these variables were performed relative to the maximal mean was calculated, with percentages ranging from 0–110%, separated into 10% thresholds. Linear mixed models determined whether the distribution of activities within each threshold varied, and positional differences. Effects were described using standardized effect sizes (ESs), and magnitude-based decisions. Across both sports, the distribution of activity (%) largely reduced the closer to the maximal mean 1-minute peak and was highest at ∼60% of the maximal mean peak. When compared with Australian football, a higher percentage of total distance was accumulated at higher intensities (70–80% and 100–110%) for rugby league (ES range = 0.82–0.87), with similar, yet larger differences for accelerometer load >80% (0.78–1.07) and impulse >60% (1.00–2.26). These findings provide information of the volume of activities performed relative to the mean maximal 1-minute peak period, which may assist in the prescription of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wade, JA, Fuller, JT, Devlin, PJ, and Doyle, TLA. Senior and junior rugby league players improve lower-body strength and power differently during a rugby league season. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1367–1372, 2022—This investigation evaluated lower-body strength and power changes across a rugby league season in elite junior and senior athletes. Twenty-five senior and 20 junior rugby league players performed an isometric midthigh pull and countermovement jump at 3 time points in a National Rugby League training season (mid-preseason, end-preseason, and in-season). Linear fixed-effects models were used to compare isometric midthigh pull force and countermovement jump power between player experience groups (senior vs. junior) across the season phases (mid-preseason vs. end-preseason vs. and in-season). Cohen's effect sizes (ES) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for pairwise comparisons. For senior players, absolute and relative strength (ES = 0.38, p < 0.007) and power (ES = 0.64, p < 0.008) increases were observed at end-preseason compared with mid-preseason, but there were no changes in-season (ES = 0.02, p > 0.571). For junior players, strength did not change (ES < 0.01, p > 0.738) and absolute power decreased (ES = 0.29, p < 0.014) at end-preseason compared with mid-preseason; large increases were evident for absolute and relative strength (ES = 1.43, p < 0.001) and power (ES = 0.62, p < 0.001) in-season. This research demonstrates senior and junior rugby league players exhibit unique patterns of improvements in lower-body strength and power across different phases of the season. This highlights the importance for training programs to differ between junior and senior athletes and target different physical qualities for both groups at different times of the season, thus providing guidance for strength and conditioning coaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has quantified the peak movement demands of elite rugby league match-play, but the peak accelerometer load or the semi-professional peak demands remain unknown. The aim of this research was to determine the peak movement demands of professional and semi-professional rugby league competition. Wearable microtechnology devices tracked the physical activity profiles of players during 26 professional (n = 351 files) and 22 semi-professional (n = 267 files) matches. Following each match, data were exported in raw form to extract the peak 1- to 10-min periods for speed, average acceleration, and accelerometer load of each player, using a rolling average method. To determine the difference between playing levels (professional vs. semi-professional) and position (forwards vs. backs), linear mixed models were used. The intercept and the slope were calculated based on the power law relationship to provide the peak, and rate of decay, of each dependent variable. Cohen's effect size (ES) statistic was used to determine the magnitude of differences between positions and playing level. There was little difference between playing standards, with only small differences in running speed, with a greater intercept and slope for the professional forwards compared with semi-professional forwards (intercept ES: 0.37; 90%CL: 0.19 to 0.55; slope ES: 0.35; 0.15 to 0.55). For positional comparisons (forwards vs. backs), there was no difference in running speeds at the professional level, but there was substantially greater running speed for backs compared to forwards in semi-professional competition, with small to moderate differences (ES range: 0.60–0.39). Both professional and semi-professional forwards showed small to moderately higher accelerometer load compared to backs, which increased with period duration (ES range: 0.22–0.79). Similarly, acceleration demands were greater for forwards compared to backs across both playing standards, with moderate to large differences (ES range: 0.52–0.96). Overall, the results of this study show that there is a small difference in the peak running speed for forwards in professional competition, but otherwise there are no meaningful differences in movement demands of professional and semi-professional rugby league match-play. Forwards display greater acceleration and accelerometer load across a number of rolling average durations compared to backs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Strength and conditioning coaches play an important role in developing the physical attributes required for sport while athletes are progressing through the developmental years. Strength and power are important characteristics for performance in rugby league. The purpose of this study was to provide a lower body strength and power profile of elite junior (aged 17-20 years) and elite senior (open-aged professional) rugby league athletes within their respective player positions groups. In doing this, the research will provide practitioners with improved understanding of what physical attributes should be targeted in an appropriate athletic development program for 17-20 year old elite rugby league athletes. METHODS: Twenty junior aged elite RL players currently competing in the elite junior National Youth Competition and 25 senior aged rugby league players currently competing in the elite professional National Rugby League competition were recruited. Participants were split into 3 player groups; Adjustables (ADJ), Hit-Up Forwards (HUF) and Outside Backs (OB), as determined by their dominant playing position during matches. The testing protocol was conducted during preseason consisting of counter-movement jump, repeated jump, broad jump, and isometric mid-thigh pull. The effects of player group (senior vs junior) and position (ADJ vs HUF vs OB) on lower body strength, power, and jump results were investigated using a two-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at an alpha level of 0.05. Where significant interactions or main effects were found, post hoc pairwise comparisons were made using the least significant difference method. Cohen's d effect sizes (ES) were calculated for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: OB (5781N ± 615N, ES=1.26) and HUF (5862N ± 747N, ES=1.26) players showed greater absolute lower body power during the counter-movement jump than ADJ (4985N ± 642N, p < 0.05). Junior HUF (6271N ± 932N) showed greater absolute lower body power than senior HUF (5590N ± 456N, p < 0.05, ES=0.92). Senior OB (6184N ± 571N) showed greater absolute lower body power than junior OB (5429N ± 417N, p < 0.05, ES=1.51). There were no significant interactions for reactive strength index in the repeat effort jump test. HUF players (288cm ± 17cm, ES=1.03) and OB players (288cm ± 16cm, ES=1.01) showed greater distance in the broad jump test than ADJ (272cm ± 16cm, p < 0.05). Senior players (3883N ± 675N) showed greater absolute lower body peak force in the IMTP than junior players (3329N ± 410N, p < 0.05, ES=0.90). HUF (3913N ± 656N) players showed greater absolute lower body peak force than ADJ (3159N ± 369N, p < 0.05, ES=1.39). Senior HUF (4127N ± 759N, ES=0.95) and senior OB (3801N ± 400N, ES=1.36) showed greater absolute lower body peak force than junior HUF (3591N ± 25N, p < 0.05) and junior OB (3244N ± 419N, p < 0.05) respectively. DISCUSSION: In the current research, senior players showed significantly greater maximum force production during the isometric midthigh pull test than junior players across all playing positions. Senior OB demonstrated greater lower body power than junior OB in the counter-movement jump. These findings are consistent with elite rugby league match data, which indicate maximal power production an important part of the game for OB players, due to the sprint running demands. In contrast to the OB position, junior age HUF showed greater lower body power than senior HUF during the countermovement jump test. The increased wrestling demands require HUF to have greater upper body strength and body mass to enhance this technical element of the game. In summary, this research has shown differences in the strength and power profile of rugby league athletes across senior and junior players and different playing positions. These results provide important guidelines for practitioners involved in developing training programs for elite junior aged athletes preparing for elite senior rugby league. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: • Improving lower body strength should be the main priority for any athletic development program aimed at developing junior rugby league athletes into senior elite rugby league athletes. • Consideration must be given to the requirements of different playing positions when focusing on other physical qualities within a development program • When focusing on upper body strength and mass for improved tackling and wrestling in rugby league in hit-up forwards, ensure lower body power production is also being addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]