A test battery for the determination of positional requirements in adolescent rugby players
Abstract
Motivation - Rugby is a very popular sport and is played from primary school to senior level in more than a hundred countries world-wide (Pretorius, 1997:2). South Africa is no exception; it has been known to be the breeding ground/or some of the world's greatest players (Granger, 2002:56). According to Pienaar and Spamer (1998:14) certain anthropometric, physical, motor abilities and game-specific variables can distinguish between talented and less talented rugby players. However, a void still exists in the knowledge of how these abilities change in growing and developing rugby players (De Ridder 1993; Hare 1997; Nicholas 199; Pienaar & Spamer 1998). Rugby consists of various activities that require certain anthropometric, physical, motor and rugby-specific components. These components are specific to the positional requirements in rugby (Craven, 1974 & 1977; Rutherford, 1983, Greenwood, 1985; Van der Merwe, 1989). However, little research has been done in sport regarding positional requirements and a need exists to develop a test battery for this purpose. Some
researchers like Van der Merwe (1989) have made a movement analysis on senior players and have established that certain positions in rugby require specific skills. Pretorius (1997) established that talented youth rugby players could be identified according to their playing position. However, it is important to remember that anthropometric, physical, motor and sport-specific components required by specific positions will change as the player grows older, attains physical maturity and gains more experience (Pienaar et al., 2000:32). At present the positional selection of players is left to the coaches and teachers, who do not necessarily possess the experience or knowledge for proper positional selections. The possibility of identifying positional requirements by using a scientifically compiled test battery for rugby players will assist coaches and teachers in the correct positional selection of players at specific ages. Rugby will benefit from a much more competent player and the quality of the game will also improve. Elite players would also experience more satisfaction from their sport participation.
Research aims The aim of this study was to establish positional requirements for U/13, UI 16, U/18 and U/19 rugby players. Methodology - This thesis consists of seven chapters. Chapter 2 presents literature reviews on the value of sports education in schools, while chapter 3 discusses the growth and motor development of adolescents. Chapter 4 sets out the positional requirements for rugby players according to previous studies and the literature. Chapter 5 explains the different
measurements and tests that were done on the U/13, U/16, U/18 and U/19 Northwest
provincial teams. Chapter 6 presents the results of this study, while chapter 7 consists
of the summary, conclusion and recommendations for further studies. Results and conclusion of study - • Practically significant differences were found between different playing groups in every age group in terms of anthropometric, rugby-specific skill, physical and motor components. This implies that it is necessary to include the differences that do exist between playing groups in terms of anthropometric, rugby-specific skill, physical and motor components in a positional group test battery. • The players were also classified into positional groups according to components that best distinguished between them. The lowest percentage of correctness was 85, 71%.
This proves that according to certain components positional group test batteries can be established • Practically significant differences were found between different playing positions in every age group in terms of anthropometric, rugby-specific skill, physical and motor components. This implies that the differences that do exist between playing positions in terms of anthropometric, rugby-specific skill, physical and motor components are necessary to include in a positional group test battery. The standardised data values that were presented for all playing positions and ages also indicated which components distinguish most between playing positions. The results of this study prove that it is possible to establish a test battery for positional
selection among adolescent rugby players. This test battery can therefore be used in
positional talent identification and development models for adolescent rugby players. Coaches can also use this test battery for positional selection of players in teams and monitor their development with increasing age.
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