The document provides an athlete profile and needs analysis for a 22 year old male semi-professional rugby player. It analyzes the physical and physiological demands of rugby, including high aerobic and anaerobic demands, high levels of strength, power, acceleration and agility. It also discusses common injuries in rugby and injury mechanisms. A 3-month training program is proposed focusing on hypertrophy, maximal strength, and speed-strength development. Pre and post testing results show improvements in body composition, jumping, sprinting and strength.
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2. Athlete Profile
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Training Age: 3
Playing Age: 8
Position: Full Back / Wing
Current Status: Semi Professional
3. Needs analysis (Sport)
•80 Minute intermittent contact sport
â–ª Places high demands on the anaerobic and aerobic energy
systems. (Gabbett, 2002, Appleby, 2012)
â–ª Requires high levels of acceleration, agility, muscular strength and
power along with maximal aerobic power. (Gabbett et al, 2008)
•Up to 10,000m can be covered (Meir et al., 2001)
â–ª Including walking, jogging, sprinting deceleration and change of
direction.
â–ª Backs typically covering more distance than forwards. (Brewer et al,
1995; Meir et al, 1993, Mclellan et al, 2011)
4. Needs Analysis (Sport)
•Up to 40 tackles per game (Brewer & Davis, 1995)
â–ª Repeated high force generation and acceptance.
•Average of 35 sprints per game (Gabbett, 2011)
â–ª Majority being <20m
â–ª Greater repeated sprint ability = more time performing high speed
running.
5. Injury
•Musculotendinous injuries to lower limb are the
most common. (Hoskins et al., 2006)
▪ Knee 8.0 – 27.7%
â–ª Hamstring & Groin 8.0-19.7%
â–ª Ankle 6.0-12.4 % (Seaward et al., 1993; Gibbs,
1994; Orchard, 2004; Gabbett &
Damrow, 2005)
• 38.8 - 91% occur during contact
(Hoskins et al., 2006; Gabbett, 2005b)
•Shoulder Injuries most common in junior players
followed by the knee. (Gabbett, 2008)
6. ACL Injury & Hamstring Strains
•Knee valgus and anterior tibial sheer force during
rapid deceleration (Berns et al., 1992; Markolf, 1995; Hewett et al., 2005a, 2005b;
Wallace et al., 2012)
•Non contact hamstring strain mechanisms
â–ª High speed running (Yamamoto, 1993; Woods et al.,2004)
â–ª Stretching movements (Askling et al., 2002; 2003)
• Both result in high velocity eccentric loading
7. Needs Analysis (Athlete)
Test Mean Score Reference
Body Mass (Kg) 80-94
Gabbett,2000;
Gabbett et al, 2011
Body Fat (%) 15.2 ± 4.1 Gabbett, 2006
1Rm Squat (Kg) 165
Baker, 2003; Baker and
Nance, 2001; Baker et al,
1999
1Rm Bench Press 130
Baker, 2003; Baker and
Nance, 2001; Baker et al,
1999
Vertical Jump (Cm) 38.1 Gabbett, 2000
10M (Sec) 1.71 Baker and Nance, 1999
40 M (Sec) 5.32 Baker and Nance, 1999
Table 1: Mean physiological and anthropometric test results from the literature
8. Needs Analysis
High Moderate Low
Max Strength Y
Power Y
Acceleration Y
Top End Speed Y
Agility Y
Strength
Endurance
Y
Power Endurance Y
Anaerobic Y
Aerobic Y
Mobility Y
Table 2: Representation of the requirements of different biomotor abilities in rugby league.
9. Testing
Test Result
Body mass (Kg)
89
Body Fat % 15.6
Counter Movement Jump (cm)
38
T - Test (Sec) 11.3
1/2 Squat (parallel) 1RM (Kg) 130 (1.46 X BM)
Bench press 1RM (Kg) 105 (1.18 X BM)
10 M (Sec) 1.89
40 M (Sec) 4.98
30-15 (VIFT) 16.5
Table 3: Pre-programme test results.
10. Goals
Athletes
Increase muscle mass
- Periodized resistance training,
- Hormonal manipulation
Increase 1RM scores for Bench Press & Squat
- High intensity resistance training including Olympic lifts and derivatives
Coaches
Improve 10m time
-Analyse technique
- Combine maximal strength training with high velocity, full acceleration and
plyometric training.
Test Data
Improve vertical jump & 10 M
-Olympic Style and full acceleration lifts (I.e. Squat jumps)
- Plyometric training.
11. 3 Month Summary
Mesocycle 1&2 (wk1-6)
-Anatomical Adaptation (Hypertrophy)
The development of anthropometric and physical qualities is fundamental to progression (Duthie,
2006).
Mesocycle 3 (wk7-10)
- Maximal Strength Development.
Power is largely dependant upon magnitude of maximal force production (Turner, 2009)
Mesocyle 4 (wk11-14)
- Speed Strength -Including plyometrics
Strength and power qualities are necessary for improving running velocity and the ability to change
direction (Duthie,2006).
13. Implementation
Table 4: Weekly break down for week 5 of the program.
Week 5 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Am
Lower
body
Upper
body
Upper
Body
Passive
rest
Pm Oly Tech
Lower
Body
Sprints
15. Implementation
Week 9 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Am
Weights
wk 9
session A
Speed
Session
Oly Tech
Weights
Session
B
Game Rest
Pm
Accel
Tech
Skill/
Conditioni
ng
External
Club
External
Club
Table 5: Weekly break down for week 9 of the programme.
17. Implementation
Energy system training
Adapted from Baker
(2011); Buchheit, 2008)
69M
35M
W:R 1:1
15 Secs at 100% VIFT with 15 Secs at 50%VIFT
Session Duration 13 Min
10 Reps X 2 Sets 3 Min rest between sets.
18. Implementation
Energy system training (Alternative session)
(Buchheit, 2008)
W:R 1:1
30 Secs at 93% VIFT with 30 Secs rest
Session Duration 23 Min
10 Reps X 2 Sets 3 Min rest between sets.
30 M
29 M
3 X 30M Shuttle + 29M
19. Implementation
Strength – Speed
Wk 13 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
AM STR-SPD(A)
External (Club)
Skill/ conditioning
Light Plyo (B)
Game REST
PM Skill/ conditioning Heavy Plyo (A) SRT-SPD(B) Skill
Table 7: Weekly breakdown for week 13 of the programme.
23. Post test results
Test Pre Post
Body Mass (Kg) 89 94
Body Fat % 15.6 14.4
Counter movement jump
(Cm)
38 46
T- Test (Sec) 11.3 10.2
1/2 Squat (parallel) 1RM
(Kg)
130 (1.46 X BM) 147.5 (1.57 X BM)
Bench press 1RM (Kg) 105 (1.18 X BM) 115 (1.22 X BM)
10 M (Sec) 1.89 1.85
40 M (Sec) 4.98 4.9
30-15 (VIFT) 16.5 19
Table 10: Pre and post programme test comparisons.
24. Evaluation
• Introduce Olympic lifts into hypertrophy and max strength sessions now
athlete is familiar and competent.
• Progress on to SPD-STR session using a low load whilst using a
maintenance session for Max Strength and STR-SPD.
• Use of Kelly (2007). Planning and monitoring training loads during the
competition phase in team sports to aid in the planning and recovery of
sessions.
• Monitor Session Rate of Perceived Exertion to calculate Training load,
strain and monotony (Comyns & Flanagan, 2013)
25. References
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26: 2538–2546, 2012.
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2011,22:3-8
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strength cond res 1999;13:230–5.
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• Brewer, J. And J. Davis, applied physiology of rugby league. Sports medicine, 1995. 20(3): p. 129-138.
• Buchheit m, laursen pb, kuhnle j, et al. Game-based training in young elite handball players. Int J sports med 2009;30:251–258.
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performance. 1, 2-13.
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27. References
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