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This article examines the training and competition loads performed with a full-time professional rugby league team during a Super League season (pre- and in-season). While a logical and evidence-based approach was taken, involving initial planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation, the idiosyncratic aspects of such a professional environment required a high degree of tacit knowledge and adaptability. The current article will therefore describe the context, outline the broad process and approach, provide some detailed case examples of support work undertaken with associated data, and identify the methods for evaluation. The use of four case studies (i.e., injury audit; hydration in a training week; alternative training strategy; and monitoring) helped review and inform strength and conditioning practice within a professional rugby league club environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the viability of using a single test in which cardiorespiratory variables are measured, to establish training guidelines in running and/or cycling training activities. Six triathletes (two females and four males), six runners (two females and four males) and six males cyclists, all with 5.5 years of serious training and still involved in racing, were tested on a treadmill and cycle ergometer. Cardiorespiratory variables [e.g., heart rate (HR), minute ventilation, carbon dioxide output (VCO2)] were calculated relative to fixed percentages of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max; from 50 to 100%). The entire group of subjects had significantly (P < 0.05) higher values of VO2max on the treadmill compared with the cycle ergometer [mean (SEM) 4.7 (0.8) and 4.4 (0.9) l · min-1, respectively], and differences between tests averaged 10.5% for runners, 6.1% for triathletes and 2.8% for cyclists. A three-way analysis of variance using a 3 × 2 × 6 design (groups × tests × intensities) demonstrated that all factors yielded highly significant F-ratios (P < 0.05) for all variables between tests, even though differences in HR were only 4 beats · min-1. When HR was plotted against a fixed percentage of VO2max, a high correlation was found between tests. These results demonstrate that for triathletes, cyclists and runners, the relationship between HR and percentage of VO2max, obtained in either a treadmill or a cycle ergometer test, may be used independently of absolute VO2max to obtain reference HR values that can be used to monitor their running and/or cycling training bouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to verify the use of a single test to obtain annual training guidelines applicable to multiple modes of training. Eight triathletes (4 females, 4 males) were tested 3 times during their training year (Phase I; Phase II; Phase III) on a treadmill and cycle ergometer. Cardio-respiratory variables were calculated at standardized percentages of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max; 50-100%). VO2max differences between tests reached 6% in every testing session (p ≤ 0.01). VO2max was stable for both tests throughout the season. The ANOVA (3 phases x 2 tests x 6 intensities) demonstrated that there was a significant difference for heart rate (HRs; p ≤ 0.05) between tests in Phase I only. However, the nonparametric sign test did not show any significant differences in any phase. These results demonstrated that triathletes could use the relationship between HR and % VO2max collected during a treadmill or a cycle ergometer test to obtain interchangeable reference HRs for monitoring their running and cycling training bouts in high volume and/or high intensity phases of their training year.