Shaun Phillips

Carbohydrate Ingestion during Team Games Exercise: Current Knowledge and Areas for Future Investigation

There is a growing body of research on the influence of ingesting carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions immediately prior to and during prolonged intermittent, high-intensity exercise (team games exercise) designed to replicate field-based team games. This review presents the current body of knowledge in this area, and identifies avenues of further research. Almost all early work supported the ingestion of carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions during prolonged intermittent exercise, but was subject to methodological limitations. A key concern was the use of exercise protocols characterized by prolonged periods at the same exercise intensity, the lack of maximal- or high-intensity work components and long periods of seated recovery, which failed to replicate the activity pattern or physiological demand of team games exercise. The advent of protocols specifically designed to replicate the demands of field-based team games enabled a more externally valid assessment of the influence of carbohydrate ingestion during this form of exercise. Once again, the research overwhelmingly supports carbohydrate ingestion immediately prior to and during team games exercise for improving time to exhaustion during intermittent running.While the external validity of exhaustive exercise at fixed prescribed intensities as an assessment of exercise capacity during team games may appear questionable, these assessments should perhaps not be viewed as exhaustive exercise tests per se, but as indicators of the ability to maintain high-intensity exercise, which is a recognized marker of performance and fatigue during field-based team games. Possible mechanisms of exercise capacity enhancement include sparing of muscle glycogen, glycogen resynthesis during low-intensity exercise periods and attenuated effort perception during exercise. Most research fails to show improvements in sprint performance during team games exercise with carbohydrate ingestion, perhaps due to the lack of influence of carbohydrate on sprint performance when endogenous muscle glycogen concentration remains above a critical threshold of ∼200 mmol/kg dry weight. Despite the increasing number of publications in this area, few studies have attempted to drive the research base forward by investigating potential modulators of carbohydrate efficacy during team games exercise, preventing the formulation of optimal carbohydrate intake guidelines. Potential modulators may be different from those during prolonged steady-state exercise due to the constantly changing exercise intensity and frequency, duration and intensity of rest intervals, potential for team games exercise to slow the rate of gastric emptying and the restricted access to carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions during many team games.This review highlights fluid volume, carbohydrate concentration, carbohydrate composition and solution osmolality; the glycaemic index of preexercise meals; fluid and carbohydrate ingestion patterns; fluid temperature; carbohydrate mouthwashes; carbohydrate supplementation in different ambient temperatures; and investigation of all of these areas in different subject populations as important avenues for future research to enable a more comprehensive understanding of carbohydrate ingestion during team games exercise.

Carbohydrate ingestion during team games exercise

There is a growing body of research on the influence of ingesting carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions immediately prior to and during prolonged intermittent, high-intensity exercise (team games exercise) designed to replicate field-based team games. This review presents the current body of knowledge in this area, and identifies avenues of further research. Almost all early work supported the ingestion of carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions during prolonged intermittent exercise, but was subject to methodological limitations. A key concern was the use of exercise protocols characterized by prolonged periods at the same exercise intensity, the lack of maximal- or high-intensity work components and long periods of seated recovery, which failed to replicate the activity pattern or physiological demand of team games exercise. The advent of protocols specifically designed to replicate the demands of field-based team games enabled a more externally valid assessment of the influence of carbohydrate ingestion during this form of exercise. Once again, the research overwhelmingly supports carbohydrate ingestion immediately prior to and during team games exercise for improving time to exhaustion during intermittent running.While the external validity of exhaustive exercise at fixed prescribed intensities as an assessment of exercise capacity during team games may appear questionable, these assessments should perhaps not be viewed as exhaustive exercise tests per se, but as indicators of the ability to maintain high-intensity exercise, which is a recognized marker of performance and fatigue during field-based team games. Possible mechanisms of exercise capacity enhancement include sparing of muscle glycogen, glycogen resynthesis during low-intensity exercise periods and attenuated effort perception during exercise. Most research fails to show improvements in sprint performance during team games exercise with carbohydrate ingestion, perhaps due to the lack of influence of carbohydrate on sprint performance when endogenous muscle glycogen concentration remains above a critical threshold of ∼200 mmol/kg dry weight. Despite the increasing number of publications in this area, few studies have attempted to drive the research base forward by investigating potential modulators of carbohydrate efficacy during team games exercise, preventing the formulation of optimal carbohydrate intake guidelines. Potential modulators may be different from those during prolonged steady-state exercise due to the constantly changing exercise intensity and frequency, duration and intensity of rest intervals, potential for team games exercise to slow the rate of gastric emptying and the restricted access to carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions during many team games.This review highlights fluid volume, carbohydrate concentration, carbohydrate composition and solution osmolality; the glycaemic index of preexercise meals; fluid and carbohydrate ingestion patterns; fluid temperature; carbohydrate mouthwashes; carbohydrate supplementation in different ambient temperatures; and investigation of all of these areas in different subject populations as important avenues for future research to enable a more comprehensive understanding of carbohydrate ingestion during team games exercise.

Carbohydrate supplementation and prolonged intermittent high-intensity exercise in adolescents: research findings, ethical issues and suggestions for the future.

In the last decade, research has begun to investigate the efficacy of carbohydrate supplementation for improving aspects of physical capacity and skill performance during sport-specific exercise in adolescent team games players. This research remains in its infancy, and further study would be beneficial considering the large youth population actively involved in team games. Literature on the influence of carbohydrate supplementation on skill performance is scarce, limited to shooting accuracy in adolescent basketball players and conflicting in its findings. Between-study differences in the exercise protocol, volume of fluid and carbohydrate consumed, use of prior fatiguing exercise and timing of skill tests may contribute to the different findings. Conversely, initial data supports carbohydrate supplementation in solution and gel form for improving intermittent endurance running capacity following soccer-specific shuttle running. These studies produced reliable data, but were subject to limitations including lack of quantification of the metabolic response of participants, limited generalization of data due to narrow participant age and maturation ranges, use of males and females within the same sample and non-standardized pre-exercise nutritional status between participants. There is a lack of consensus regarding the influence of frequently consuming carbohydrate-containing products on tooth enamel erosion and the development of obesity or being overweight in adolescent athletes and non-athletes. These discrepancies mean that the initiation or exacerbation of health issues due to frequent consumption of carbohydrate-containing products by adolescents cannot be conclusively refuted. Coupled with the knowledge that consuming a natural, high-carbohydrate diet -3-8 hours before exercise can significantly alter substrate use and improve exercise performance in adults, a moral and ethical concern is raised regarding the direction of future research in order to further knowledge while safeguarding the health and well-being of young participants. It could be deemed unethical to continue study into carbohydrate supplementation while ignoring the potential health concerns and the possibility of generating similar performance enhancements using natural dietary interventions. Therefore, future work should investigate the influence of pre-exercise dietary intake on the prolonged intermittent, high-intensity exercise performance of adolescents. This would enable quantification of whether pre-exercise nutrition can modulate exercise performance and, if so, the optimum dietary composition to achieve this. Research could then combine this knowledge with ingestion of carbohydrate-containing products during exercise to facilitate ethical and healthy nutritional guidelines for enhancing the exercise performance of adolescents. This article addresses the available evidence regarding carbohydrate supplementation and prolonged intermittent, high-intensity exercise in adolescent team games players. It discusses the potential health concerns associated with the frequent use of carbohydrate-containing products by adolescents and how this affects the research ethics of the field, and considers directions for future work.

The Effect of a Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse on Upper-body Muscular Strength and Endurance

Abstract Dunkin, JE and Phillips, SM. The effect of a carbohydrate mouth rinse on upper-body muscular strength and endurance. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1948–1953, 2017—Carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinsing rapidly increases corticomotor output and maximal muscle force production, which could enhance muscular strength and endurance during resistance exercise. However, previous research has found no effect of CHO rinsing on muscular strength or endurance. The current study altered the CHO rinse composition and frequency and the muscular endurance test to further investigate the effects of a CHO mouth rinse on upper-body muscular strength and endurance. Twelve recreationally resistance-trained men (mean ± SD age 22 ± 1 year, height 179.2 ± 1.8 cm, body mass 80.9 ± 6.1 kg) completed a bench press protocol (1 repetition maximum [RM] test followed by repetitions to failure at 40% of 1RM) on 3 occasions. Subjects rinsed 25 ml of an 18% CHO solution or a placebo for 10 seconds before 1RM and repetitions to failure and completed a no-rinse control condition. Felt arousal (FA) was measured before and after each rinse, heart rate (HR) was measured before and after both exercise protocols, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after repetitions to failure. Rinsing did not influence 1RM (p = 0.680, = 0.03), repetitions to failure (p = 0.677, = 0.04), or exercise volume (load × reps; p = 0.600, = 0.05). There were no significant treatment effects on heart rate (p = 0.677, = 0.04), FA (p = 0.674, = 0.04) or rating of perceived exertion (p = 0.604, = 0.05). A CHO mouth rinse does not improve upper-body muscular strength or endurance.

Reliability and sensitivity of the 6 and 30 second Wingate tests in physically active males and females

1 BACKGROUND: 2 Despite widespread use of 6 and 30 second Wingate anaerobic tests (WAnT), performance 3 reliability of these protocols over repeated trials in active males and females has not been 4 determined. 5 OBJECTIVE: 6 This study assessed the performance reliability and test sensitivity of the 6 s and 30 s WAnT. 7 METHODS: 8 Twenty physically active participants (10 males and 10 females) completed a 6 s and 30 s 9 WAnT against 7.5% body mass resistance on four occasions. 10 RESULTS: 11 Peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) did not differ across trials for either 12 gender. Male PPO in both sprint durations demonstrated random variation (standard error of 13 measurement (SEM)) ≤ 3.9% in all between-trials comparisons. For MPO, SEM was ≤ 2.9% 14 in all comparisons. For females, random variation in PPO in both sprint durations was lower 15 in trial 3-4 than earlier pairs of trials. MPO between trials in the 6-s sprint was variable, with 16 the smallest variation between trials 1-2. For the 30-s sprint, MPO was more stable across 17 trials. Across all four trials, only MPO in the 30-s test for males displayed good test sensitivity. 18 CONCLUSIONS: 19 In conclusion, familiarisation may not be required to establish consistent performance in 20 physically active males or females during the 6 and 30 s WAnT. Furthermore, general 21 marginal test sensitivity in both tests and genders suggests that results of WAnT in physically 22 active participants should not be used to investigate the genuine effect of an intervention. 23 24 25 26 27

Overestimation of Required Recovery Time During Repeated Sprint Exercise With Self-Regulated Recovery.

Abstract Phillips, SM, Thompson, R, and Oliver, JL. Overestimation of required recovery time during repeated sprint exercise with self-regulated recovery. J Strength Cond Res 28(12): 3385–3392, 2014—This study investigated the reliability and accuracy of self-regulated recovery time and performance during repeated sprinting. On 4 occasions, 14 men (24.5 ± 5.0 years) completed 10 × 6 seconds cycle sprints against 7.5% body mass, self-regulating (SR) recovery time to maintain performance. Subjects then repeated the test, but with a reduced recovery (RR) of 10% less recovery time. Across the first 4 trials, there were no between-trial differences in peak power output (PPO) or mean power output (MPO), recovery time, or fatigue index (p > 0.05). Random variation in recovery time was reduced across trials 3–4 (coefficient of variation [CV] = 7.5%, 95% confidence limits [CL] = 5.4–12.4%) compared with trials 1–2 (CV = 16.0, 95% CL = 11.4–27.0%) and 2–3 (CV = 10.1%, 95% CL = 7.2–16.7%) but was consistent across trials for PPO and MPO (between-trials CV, ⩽3.3%). There were no trial effects for any performance, physiological, or perceptual measures when comparing SR with RR (p > 0.05), although heart rate and perceptual measures increased with subsequent sprint efforts (p ⩽ 0.05). After 2 familiarization trials, subjects can reliably self-regulate recovery time to maintain performance during repeated sprints. However, subjects overestimate the amount of recovery time required, as reducing this time by 10% had no effect on performance, perceptual, or physiological parameters. Self-regulated sprinting is potentially a reliable training tool, particularly for sprint training where maintenance of work is desired. However, overestimation of required recovery time means that performance improvements may not be achieved if the goal of training is improvement of repeated sprint performance with incomplete recovery.

Concussion in University Level Sport: Knowledge and Awareness of Athletes and Coaches

Using a cross-sectional survey concussion knowledge was evaluated among forty university-level athletes (n = 20, rugby union players; n = 20, Gaelic football players) and eight experienced team coaches (n = 2, rugby union; n = 2, Gaelic football; n = 1, soccer; n = 1, hockey; n = 1, netball; n = 1, basketball). Levels of knowledge of concussion were high across all participants. Coaches had higher knowledge scores for almost all areas; however, there was evidence of important gaps even in this group. Knowledge was not sufficient in identifying concussion, and when it is safe to return to play following a concussion. Impaired knowledge of how to recognise a concussion, and misunderstanding the need for rest and rehabilitation before return to play presents a hazard to health from second impact and more catastrophic brain injury. We discuss reasons for these guideline misconceptions, and suggest that attitude issues on the significance of concussion may underlie a willingness to want to play with a concussion. This suggests the current education on sport-related concussion needs to be expanded for the appropriate management of university-level contact sports.

Comparison of affective responses during and after low volume high-intensity interval exercise, continuous moderate- and continuous high-intensity exercise in active, untrained, healthy males

ABSTRACT This study compared affective responses to low volume high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) and high-intensity continuous exercise (HICE). Twelve untrained males ( 48.2 ± 6.7 ml·kg−1·min−1) completed MICE (30 min cycle at 85% of ventilatory threshold (VT)), HICE (cycle at 105% of VT matched with MICE for total work), and HIIE (10 x 6 s cycle sprints with 60 s recovery). Affective valence and perceived activation were measured before exercise, post warm-up, every 20% of exercise time, and 1, 5, 10, and 15 min post-exercise. Affective valence during exercise declined by 1.75 ± 2.42, 1.17 ± 1.99, and 0.42 ± 1.38 units in HICE, HIIE, and MICE, respectively, but was not statistically influenced by trial (P = 0.35), time (P = 0.06), or interaction effect (P = 0.08). Affective valence during HICE and HIIE was consistently less positive than MICE. Affective valence post-exercise was not statistically influenced by trial (P = 0.10) and at 5 min post-exercise exceeded end-exercise values (P = 0.048). Circumplex profiles showed no negative affect in any trial. Affective responses to low volume HIIE are similar to HICE but remain positive and rebound rapidly, suggesting it may be a potential alternative exercise prescription.

Interval running with self-selected recovery: Physiology, performance and perception

Abstract This study (1) compared the physiological responses and performance during a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session incorporating externally regulated (ER) and self-selected (SS) recovery periods and (2) examined the psychophysiological cues underpinning SS recovery durations. Following an incremental maximal exercise test to determine maximal aerobic speed (MAS), 14 recreationally active males completed 2 HIIT sessions on a non-motorised treadmill. Participants performed 12 × 30 s running intervals at a target intensity of 105% MAS interspersed with 30 s (ER) or SS recovery periods. During SS, participants were instructed to provide themselves with sufficient recovery to complete all 12 efforts at the required intensity. A semi-structured interview was undertaken following the completion of SS. Mean recovery duration was longer during SS (51 ± 15 s) compared to ER (30 ± 0 s; p < .001; d = 1.46 ± 0.46). Between-interval heart rate recovery was higher (SS: 19 ± 9 b min−1; ER: 8 ± 5 b min−1; p < .001; d = 1.43 ± 0.43) and absolute time ≥90% maximal heart rate (HRmax) was lower (SS: 335 ± 193 s; ER: 433 ± 147 s; p = .075; d = 0.52 ± 0.39) during SS compared to ER. Relative time ≥105% MAS was greater during SS (90 ± 6%) compared to ER (74 ± 20%; p < .01; d = 0.87 ± 0.40). Different sources of afferent information underpinned decision-making during SS. The extended durations of recovery during SS resulted in a reduced time ≥90% HRmax but enhanced time ≥105% MAS, compared with ER exercise. Differences in the afferent cue utilisation of participants likely explain the large levels of inter-individual variability observed.

The awareness level of concussion injuries among amateur athletes and coaches

Although injury rates between elite female and male players are comparable, female players are more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) (Walden et al., 2011, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 19, 11–19). A common mechanism of ACL injury is non-contact trauma sustained when landing from a jump. The Tuck Jump Assessment (TJA) uses 10 criteria to identify technique flaws when jumping and landing (Myer et al., et al., 2008, Athletic Therapy Today, 13, 39–44) although interrater reliability has been challenged (Dudley et al., 2016, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30, 1510–1516). The aim of this study was to identify commonly occurring technique JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES s37 flaws during the TJA and to determine inter-rater agreement for each criterion and the composite score. Following institutional ethical approval, 60 female soccer players were recruited from one international squad (mean (SD): age = 20.27 ± 3.44 years; height = 168.02 ± 5.26 cm; mass = 62.54 ± 6.33 kg). Video recordings (sagittal and coronal plane) of each player undertaking the TJA on an artificial 4G playing surface were taken. Four raters (2 physiotherapists and 2 strength and conditioning coaches) independently assessed each TJA criterion post hoc (flaw present = 1 point, flaw absent = 0 points) and the composite score calculated for each player. There were 665 technique flaws. Criterion 2 “Thighs do not reach parallel” was most common (N = 147/665), followed by criterion 1 “Knee valgus on landing” (N = 80/665). Criterion 9 “Pause between jumps” was least common (N = 23/665).The most common fault category was “Knee and thigh motion” (N = 234/720, 32.5% composite of 3 criteria weighted for maximum possible faults). There were clinically acceptable levels of agreement between raters for “Lower extremity valgus at landing”, k = .83 (95% CI, .72–.93); “Thighs do not reach parallel (peak of jump)”, k = .84 (95% CI, .74–.94); “Thighs not equal side to side”, k = .86 (95% CI, .75–.96). The level of agreement for the composite score of all 10 criteria ranged from kw = .62 (95% CI, .48–.76) to kw = .80 (95% CI, .70–.90) suggesting a “fair-to-very good” level of inter-rater agreement. The “knee and thigh” motion category of the TJA may provide the most useful information for knee mechanics and potential risk factors for knee injury. We recommend its use for screening elite female soccer players.The advancements in micro-technology have enabled the quantification of external load in many team sports using GPS derived data. However, it has been proposed that an accelerometer derived variable, such as player load (PL), may provide a superior measurement system (Boyd, Ball, & Aughey, 2011, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 6, 311-321). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between PL and distance covered in hockey competition. With institutional ethics approval, 25 elite male hockey players wore tracking devices in 8 international matches. Players were classified into 3 positional groups (defenders, midfielders and forwards). Absolute and relative values were determined for PL and distance. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) was calculated to determine the relationship between PL and distance. The Fisher Z test was used to compare the relationships between groups. There were very large correlations between absolute distance and load for all positions (r = 0.902-0.956, P < 0.01) and overall (r = 0.910, P < 0.01). The absolute distance to load relationship was not different between positions. There were very large correlations between relative distance and load for all positions (r = 0.702-0.927, P < 0.01) and overall (r = 0.872, P < 0.01). The relative distance to load relationship was weaker in defenders compared with midfielders (Z = 3.48, P = 0.0005) and forwards (Z = 2.14, P = 0.0324). The strong relationships between these variables suggest that PL is simply a proxy for distance covered and it appears to be heavily influenced by the vertical accelerations that occur during foot strike at any running speed. Therefore, additional research is required to examine how PL can be modified to fully represent all hockey specific activities. The numerical spread of data may have influenced the positional relationships for the relative values.Concussion occurs following a forceful impact to the brain inducing sudden trauma, and may lead to chronic physical, cognitive and/or emotional impairments (Kerr et al, 2013, SAGE, 7, 138-153). As physical activity patterns increase across recreational teams, high schools, colleges, and at professional level, so do the amount of sports - related concussions (SRC) (Fraas et al, 2014, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 184, 425-430). In amateur university sports where participation is high (Kasamatsu et al, 2016, Athletic Training and Sports Health Care, 8, 112-120), there is a lack of data on the awareness level of SRC among athletes and coaches. Therefore, this investigation sought to evaluate concussion knowledge among university level athletes and coaches. Following institutional ethical approval, forty healthy male rugby union (n = 20) and Gaelic football (n = 20) players (age: 22 ± 2 years and 21 ± 1 years, respectively; playing experience: 7.5 ± 1 and 5.0 ± 1 years, respectively) (mean ± s) and eight male coaches from Gaelic football, rugby union, soccer, hockey, netball, and basketball (age: 23 ± 2 years; coaching experience: 6.0 ± 1 years) (mean ± s) completed two validated surveys (Cusimano et al, 2009, Canadian journal of neurological sciences, 36, 315-320; McKinlay, Bishop and McLellan, Brain injury, 25, 761-766) examining knowledge of concussive signs, symptoms, management and return to play guidelines. Respondents had significant misconceptions surrounding SRC; 35% of athletes believed that a player must lose consciousness to suffer from a concussion and 20% believed that it was safe to play with a concussion. About 40% of rugby union athletes believed players could return to play two days after suffering a concussion. Despite having greater concussion knowledge in comparison to the athletes, 25% of coaches did not know how to identify a concussion and 25% were unaware of the return to play guidelines. Rugby union and Gaelic football athletes exhibited a similar sub-optimal level of concussion knowledge. In summary, a marked number of athletes and coaches hold misconceptions surrounding concussive signs and symptoms. Additionally, a number were unaware of the management procedure and return to play guidelines post-concussion. There is a need for educational concussion strategies to be implemented in university sport, to maximise the health and safety of those participating. However, the effectiveness of such an educational programme requires further investigation prior to implementation (Fraas & Burchiel, 2016, European Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-7).Shooting is one of the key technical skills required by wheelchair basketball players (Zwakhoven, Evaggelinou, Daly, & Vanlandewijck, 2003, European Bulletin of Adapted Physical Activity, 2 (3)). Previous studies have focused on examining the technique of free-throw shooting (Goosey-Tolfrey, Butterworth, & Morriss, 2002, Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 19, 238–250); however, free-throws only equate to approximately 15–22% of the total number of shots taken during a game (Gomez, Perez, Molik, Szyman, & Sampaio, 2014, Journal of Sports Sciences, 32 (11), 1066–1075). To date, no attempts have been made to explore the determinants of two-point and three-point shooting. This study explores the key determinants of two-point and threepoint shooting and develops a valid prediction model. Following ethical approval, footage of all of the twopoint and three-point shots taken when the top five teams played each other (nine games; 1144 shots) at the 2015 Men’s European Wheelchair Basketball Championships was analysed in SportsCode (version 10, SportsTec Ltd). A valid and reliable shooting specific performance analysis template was developed by three elite wheelchair basketball coaches and the lead researcher (Inter-operator reliability ± 1: 0.00%; Intraoperator reliability ± 1: 0.00%). The template contained 61 action variables within 20 categories: Point, Quarter, Match Status, Classification, Shot Hand, Shot Handed, Shot Type, Shot Clock, Pre-Shot, Shot Movement, Shot Positioning, Zone, Pressure, Number of Defenders, Defender Marking-Shooting Hand, Defender Marking-Non-Shooting Hand, Defender Marking-Space and Defenders Positioning-Defender In Front, Defenders Positioning-Defender Behind and Defenders Positioning-Defender on Side. Chi-squared test highlighted seven categories were significant (P < 0.001) when shot outcome was compared (successful versus unsuccessful). The Shot Positioning category was the most significant category and produced a P-value of 2.2e-16. The forward selection method was used and a 30% sample of the data set selected to create a shooting specific generalised linear regression model that involved 10 categories. The model was tested against the entire data set and an area under the curve value of 0.850 was achieved. The model demonstrated that when an athlete was able to “catch and shoot” in a “square to basket” position whilst “stationary” and taking a “set shot” from the “two-point centre long” zone whilst a defender is placing “no pressure” on the shooter the individual achieved a 96.87% success rate. The findings provide objective evidence of the key determinants of shooting success. Coaches are able to utilise this information to adjust training sessions and game strategies to meet the needs of the performer.Intensive strength-training (ST) can result in exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD), which commonly leads to reductions in acute muscle function. Post-exercise ingestion of carbohydrate and protein mixtures attempt to attenuate the effects of EIMD. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of whey-protein-hydrolysate and milk-based formulated drinks on recovery of muscle function following ST. Thirty resistance-trained males (age: 25.2 ± 5.5 years, mass: 79.4 ± 8.4 kg, stature: 1.77 ± 0.45 m) provided written informed consent to participate. The study was approved by the local ethics committee inline with Helsinki Declarations. Participants were randomly equally assigned to either; whey-hydrolysate and dextrose drink (WH), milk-based drink (MB), flavoured dextrose (PLACEBO) and performed baseline assessments of perceived muscle-soreness (SORENESS), static-squat jump (SSJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), seated medicine-ball throw (MBT) and isokinetic assessments of the knee-extensors and flexors. Subsequently, participants performed a ST session consisting of various multi-joint barbell exercises. Participants then consumed either WH, MB or PLACEBO 10 min following ST, subsequently repeating all assessments 24 h and 48 h post-ST. In relation to within-group changes, all groups experienced substantial increases in SORENESS at 24 h and 48 h (P < 0.001). However, for dynamic power measures (SSJ, CMJ and MBT), PLACEBO experienced a decrease for only CMJ at 48 h (−1.8 cm), whereas WH and MB experienced significant decreases across SSJ (WH; −3 cm at 24 h, MB; −2.6 cm at 24 h, −2.0 cm at 48 h), CMJ (WH; −2.4 cm at 24 h, MB; −3.7 cm at 24 h, −3.3 cm at 48 h) and MBT (WH; −0.25 m at 48 h, MB; −0.33 cm at 24 h, −0.38 m at 48 h) (P < 0.05). All groups experienced significant decreases in isokinetic-extension torque at both 24 h and 48 h; however, flexion torque was decreased for PLACEBO only at these time points (24 h: −10 N · m, 48 h: −13 N · m) (P < 0.05). Isokinetic-extension power and work were significantly decreased at 24 h and 48 h for both WH [Power (24 h: −18 W, 48 h: −13 W) Work (24 h: −30 J, 48 h: −22 J)] and PLACEBO [Power (24 h: −15 W, 48 h: −14 W) Work (24 h: −25 J, 48 h: −28 J)] (P < 0.05); however, no decreases occurred for MB. Flexion power was significantly decreased for only PLACEBO at 24 h and 48 h (24 h: −7 W, 48 h: −6 W) (P < 0.05). Decreases in flexion work occurred across all conditions at 48 h, but only for PLACEBO at 24 h (WH, 48 h: −6 J) (MB, 48 h: −15 J) (PLACEBO, 24 h: −11 J, 48 h: 13 J) (P < 0.05). Consumption of WH or MB had no effect on recovery of dynamic power-producing ability or soreness compared to PLACEBO. However, WH and MB seemingly had positive effects on recovery of isokinetic muscle-function.Common mental disorder (CMD) have a high prevalence in retired rugby players (Gouttebarge, Kerkhoffs and Lambert, 2015, European College of Sports Science, doi.org/10.1080/17461391:2015.1086819). The physical, psychosocial and organisational stressors Rugby Football League (RFL) players experience may all contribute to inducing symptoms of CMD. The aim of this study was to assess RFL players’ perceived level of welfare support and to explore the experiences of Player Welfare Officers (PWO) attached to RFL’s Super League. This two year, mixed-methods project, commissioned by the RFL Player Welfare Director was undertaken with institutional ethics approval. The quantitative phase utilised an anonymised internet based survey to assess players’ perceptions of welfare support and aspects of mental health. Independent t-test results from the first survey (n=75) indicate a significantly higher risk of depression with higher stress levels (t(73) = 5.88 p<0.001) and with higher athletic identity (t(73) = 2.00 p<0.4). Players at low risk of depression reported more positive attitudes towards welfare policy (t(74) = 2.26 p<0.2). Better mental health was found when the club had a PWO, if they knew who the PWO was and if they knew how to access counselling services (second year survey results to follow, n=196). The qualitative phase utilised semi-structured interviews and were analysed using Template Analysis (Brooks, McCluskey, Turley and King, 2015, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 12(2), 202-22). In the first year 11 PWOs were interviewed, 12 in the second year. PWOs perceived the services they provided to be a potentially valuable asset for players. The uptake depended on the level of support from the club. The attitude of the coaching staff determined whether players were given time to access the PWO and whether or not this was seen as a valuable use of their time: “the PWO is only as important as the club want it to be...you need the backing of the coach in certain situations and you need time to build that relationship”. The PWOs have seen a cultural shift over the last year towards their role, and the services they signpost on to, being seen as more acceptable. The results suggest that the PWO’s role is integral to supporting RFL players’ mental health. This requires a full-time, not part-time role, and central funding from the RFL. This change would be advantageous in both increasing the time PWOs have available to support players, and the recognition of the value of the service they provide.