Donna O'Connor

Groin injuries in professional rugby league players: a prospective study

Altogether, 100 uninjured professional rugby league players were evaluated over a 2-year period. Their height, body mass, sum of skinfolds, girths and bone diameters were recorded. A Cybex 340 isokinetic dynamometer was used to determine peak torque, work, power, endurance ratios and peak torque ratios of the hip abductors and adductors (5 repetitions at 0.52 and 2.08 rad · s− 1; 20 repetitions at 3.66 rad · s− 1) and knee flexors and extensors (4 repetitions at 1.04 and 3.14 rad · s− 1; 30 repetitions at 5.22 rad · s− 1). Hip abduction and adduction were also assessed with the hip in external rotation. Discriminant function analysis was conducted on all predictor variables to develop a multivariate predictive model capable of classifying players with a high degree of accuracy into groups with and without a groin injury. The model consisted of eight variables and correctly classified 91.7% of the non-injured players and 90.5% of the injured players. The correct classification for the model as a whole was 91.4%. The aetiological factors identified as being related to injury of the groin musculotendinous unit included abduction and adduction-with-rotation peak torque, angle of adduction and abduction-with-rotation peak torque, strength ratio of hip muscle groups, bilateral difference in extension peak torque, femur diameter and body mass.

Building community in academic settings: the importance of flexibility in a structured mentoring program

Academic mentoring is increasingly being used by many universities as a tool to enhance the quality of research‐led teaching, promote cross‐faculty collaboration and encourage a mentoring culture and community. This article reports on a pilot project established to investigate the benefits of building flexibility into a structured academic mentoring program at the University of Sydney. Twenty‐six academics from the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Education and Social Work participated in the program. The mentors ranged in position from lecturer to professor and the mentees from associate lecturer to senior lecturer. Flexible arrangements were shown to be important in a variety of ways, from the pairing of mentor with mentee, to focussing on issues of work survival and life balance, research outcomes and career advancement. The project highlighted the lower number of male academics involved in formal mentoring, which merits further exploration. All participants reported positive outcomes, although refinement of the pairing process was recommended. A variety of unanticipated outcomes was reported by mentees.

EFFECTS OF SIX WEEKS OF β-HYDROXY-β-METHYLBUTYRATE (HMB) AND HMB/CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON STRENGTH, POWER, AND ANTHROPOMETRY OF HIGHLY TRAINED ATHLETES

This study investigated the effects of 6 weeks of dietary supplementation of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) and HMB combined with creatine monohydrate (HMBCr) on the muscular strength and endurance, leg power, and anthropometry of elite male rugby league players. The subjects were divided into a control group (n = 8), a HMB group (n = 11; 3 g·d-1)or a HMBCr group (n = 11; 12 g·d-1 with 3 g HMB, 3 g Cr, 6 g carbohydrates). Three repetition maximum lifts on bench press, deadlifts, prone row, and shoulder press, maximum chin-up repetitions, 10-second maximal cycle test, body mass, girths, and sum of skinfolds were assessed pre-and postsupplementation. Statistical analysis revealed no effect of HMB or HMBCr on any parameter compared with presupplementation measures or the control group. HMB and HMBCr were concluded to have no ergogenic effect on muscular strength and endurance, leg power, or anthropometry when taken orally by highly trained male athletes over 6 weeks.

Coaching Philosophies: Perceptions from Professional Cricket, Rugby League and Rugby Union Players and Coaches in Australia

This paper reports on the perceptions of effective coaching based on interviews with male professional coaches and players from cricket, rugby league, and rugby union in Australia. It is part of a larger research project into effective coaching in professional sport where the coachs philosophy reflected a key ingredient of a coachs perceived effectiveness. The findings from the current study show that coaches in these professional settings develop programs to assist players in acquiring on- and off-field skills. In addition to this, there is a tendency to focus on learning and improvement as opposed to a win-at-all-costs attitude. These philosophies highlight elements of a Humanistic approach to coaching which focuses on the total development of the person.

An examination of the training profiles and injuries in elite youth track and field athletes

Abstract Australian track and field has a strong focus on State and National elite youth programmes as the development pathway to elite senior international competition. Yet, there are no clearly defined parameters for appropriate training volumes, training intensities or competition schedules for youth athletes. This study sought to examine the training profiles of, and injuries suffered by, elite youth track and field athletes between the ages 13 and 17 years. The participants were 103 elite NSW athletes (age 17.7±2.4 years, 64% girls) who recalled, through a questionnaire, their training profiles (frequency, volume and intensity) and injuries (type, site and severity) at three age groups: 13–14 years, 15–16 years and at 17 years of age. Eighty-one athletes (78.6%) sustained 200 injuries (time loss > 3 weeks) that were predominantly classified as overuse (76%) with 17.3% of athletes retiring due to injuries prior to turning 18 years. The results, analysed using t-test, one-way analysis of variance and chi-square analysis, showed that injured athletes trained at a higher intensity at 13–14 years (p < 0.01), completed more high-intensity training sessions at 13–14 years (p < 0.01) and 15–16 years (p < 0.05) and had a higher yearly training load at 13–14 years (p < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between forced retirement and having sustained an overuse injury (p<0.05). These findings suggest that monitoring by coaches and athletes of training loads, intensity and the number of hard sessions completed each week is warranted to minimise injuries sustained by 13–16 year old athletes.

The Development of Position-Specific Performance Indicators in Elite Youth Rugby League: A Coach's Perspective:

The competition for talent identification and development is highly meaningful to the long-term participation and performance levels of sport. The introduction of the National Youth Competition (NYC) as a critical step in the development of talented youth players has led to this research, to develop position performance indicators in youth rugby league. By applying a modification of the Delphi qualitative research method, this research collaborates current elite level youth coach opinions to identify key cognitive, physiological and game-skill performance indicators. The three-stage research process of initial interview and subsequent questionnaires also identifies the initial signs of higher performance in youth players. Results have differentiated playing positions and identified a unique sub-set of skills and abilities that are crucial to position-specific performance. Cognitive indicators have been found to exert the greatest influence over a variety of positions, closely followed by game skills, and to a lesser extent physiological indicators. Conclusions suggest that, at developmental levels of the sport, coaches should emphasise and allocate training time to develop cognitive and game-skill indicators. Findings also recognise that current talent identification and development programs may need to be modified to adequately measure these indicators to maximise chances of ‘talented’ youth players reaching higher levels.

First Club Location and Relative Age as Influences on Being a Professional Australian Rugby League Player

Bio-ecological systems theory suggests athlete development and success occurs via a complex inter-play of factors nested between and within individual, social context, and broader socio-cultural environments. On these predications, this study examined whether ‘first club location’ and ‘relative age’ independently and interactively affected the likelihood of becoming a professional Rugby League player. Data on 1509 Australian Rugby League professionals who played between 1998–2010 were obtained. Compared to population distributions, Chi-square and odds ratio analyses revealed a significant over-representation of players initiating their participation in small communities (i.e., < 20,000 residents), along with a contrasting under-representation from cities (i.e., > 1,000,000 residents). Professional players were also more likely to be relatively older (Q1 v Q4 OR = 1.80; CI = 1.47–2.21). A log-linear interactional analysis revealed no notable main trend (p < .07). However, the specific odds of a professional player being relatively older were reduced (OR = 0.68, CI = 0.50–0.92) when their first Rugby League club was in a small community (i.e., < 20,000 residents). Results highlight how characteristics of the social environment can potentially influence long-term patterns of athlete development and attainment in Australian Rugby League.

Talent identification and selection in elite youth football: An Australian context

Abstract We identified the perceptual–cognitive skills and player history variables that differentiate players selected or not selected into an elite youth football (i.e. soccer) programme in Australia. A sample of elite youth male football players (n = 127) completed an adapted participation history questionnaire and video-based assessments of perceptual–cognitive skills. Following data collection, 22 of these players were offered a full-time scholarship for enrolment at an elite player residential programme. Participants selected for the scholarship programme recorded superior performance on the combined perceptual–cognitive skills tests compared to the non-selected group. There were no significant between group differences on the player history variables. Stepwise discriminant function analysis identified four predictor variables that resulted in the best categorization of selected and non-selected players (i.e. recent match-play performance, region, number of other sports participated, combined perceptual–cognitive performance). The effectiveness of the discriminant function is reflected by 93.7% of players being correctly classified, with the four variables accounting for 57.6% of the variance. Our discriminating model for selection may provide a greater understanding of the factors that influence elite youth talent selection and identification.

Perfectionism and sport-specific engagement in elite youth soccer players

ABSTRACT It is acknowledged that the time invested in sport-specific activities contributes to higher levels of performance. However, there is limited understanding of the potential impact of personality traits, such as perfectionism, on engagement in sport-specific activities. In the current study, we examine whether elite youth soccer players who demonstrate higher and lower levels of perfectionistic strivings tendencies can be differentiated based on their sport-specific engagement. The Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale 2 and an adapted Player History Questionnaire were completed by 419 elite youth male soccer players competing at the Australian age-related national youth championships (under 13, n = 133; under 14, n = 166; under 15, n = 120). A quartile split approach was used to separate higher (n = 100) and lower (n = 107) perfectionistic strivings groups. Findings revealed the higher perfectionistic strivings group accumulated more time in sport-specific activities, including coach-led practice, individual practice, peer-led play and indirect involvement in soccer when compared to individuals with lower perfectionistic strivings tendencies. Descriptive analysis indicates this equates to approximately 159 h a year (i.e. 17 h coach-led practice, 22 h individual practice, 60 h of peer-led play and 60 h of indirect involvement) more than the lower perfectionistic strivings group. In summary, the results suggest players with varying levels of perfectionistic strivings may be differentiated based on their engagement in soccer-specific activity in a sample of elite youth players in Australia, and suggests that perfectionistic strivings may have an adaptive influence on sport-specific engagement.

Enhancing Coach-Parent Relationships in Youth Sports: Increasing Harmony and Minimising Hassle: A Commentary

INTRODUCTION The purpose of Smoll, Cumming and Smith’s article was to outline key aspects and strategies related to coach-parent relationships in youth sports. Parents are crucial for positive sporting experiences as they provide training and playing opportunities through transport, financial and socio-emotional support and unconditional love [1]. Although the authors focus on enhancing the athlete’s experience through effective coachparent relationships, the coach’s experience should not be ignored. In Australia, youth sport coaches range from inexperienced parent-volunteers to highly skilled and paid coaches of elite youth programs [2]. Regardless of the sporting context, interacting with parents can be emotionally draining for coaches. In a recent study that we conducted in youth football codes, the broad category of ‘parents’ accounted for over 50% of responses when volunteer youth coaches were asked what they enjoyed least about coaching. Responses referred to: abusive parents, parents’ emphasis on winning, criticism from parents, and parents who think their children are better than what they actually are [3]. The high level of stress and pressure caused by parents consistently challenges youth coaches’ motives to continue. If coaches do not have fun, as is the case with children, they will leave the sport [4].