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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]

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]

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]

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]