Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of starters and non-starters and playing positions in elite Australian Rules football : A case study
- Authors: Young, Warren , Newton, Robert , Doyle, Tim , Chapman, Dale , Cormack, Stuart , Stewart, Glenn , Dawson, Brian
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 8, no. 3 (Sep 2005), p. 333-345
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- Description: A purpose of this study was to determine if pre-season anthropometric and physiological measures were significantly different for the players from one Australian Football League (AFL) club selected to play in the first game of the season compared to the players not selected. Another purpose was to compare fitness test results for defenders, forwards and mid-fielders in the same AFL club. Thirty-four players were tested for isolated quadriceps and hamstrings strength, leg extensor muscle strength and power, upper body strength, sprinting speed, vertical jump (VJ), endurance, skinfolds and hamstring flexibility. The starters who were selected to play the first game were a significantly older and more experienced playing group, and were significantly better (p < 0.05) in measures of leg power, sprinting speed and the distance covered in the Yo Yo intermittent recovery test compared to the non-starters. Although there were trends for the superiority of the starters, the differences in lower and upper body strength, VJ and predicted VO(2)max were nonsignificant. The forwards generally produced the worst fitness scores of the playing positions with the midfielders having significantly lower skinfolds and the defenders possessing better hamstring strength and VJ compared to the forwards. It was concluded that some fitness qualities can differentiate between starters and non-starters, at least in one AFL club. Comparisons of playing positions and the development of fitness norms for AFL players require further research.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001187
An evaluation of a new test of reactive agility and its relationship to sprint speed and change of direction speed
- Authors: Sheppard, Jeremy , Young, Warren , Doyle, Tim , Sheppard, T. A. , Newton, Robert
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 9, no. 4 (2006), p. 342-349
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- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a new test of agility, the reactive agility test (RAT), which included anticipation and decision-making components in response to the movements of a tester. Thirty-eight Australian football players took part in the study, categorized into either a higher performance group (HPG) (n = 24) or lower performance group (LPG) (n = 14) based on playing level from the previous season. All participants undertook testing of a 10 m straight sprint (10 mSS), a 8-9 m change of direction speed test (CODST), and the RAT. Test-retest and inter-tester reliability testing measures were conducted with the LPG. The intra-class correlation (ICC) of the RAT was 0.870, with no significant (p < 0.05) difference between the test results obtained on the first and second test sessions using a t-test. A dependent samples t-test revealed no significant (p < 0.05) difference between the test results of two different testers with the same population. The HPG were significantly (p = 0.001) superior to those of the LPG on the RAT, with no differences observed on any other variable. The RAT is an acceptably reliable test when considering both test-retest reliability, as well as inter-rater reliability. In addition, the test was valid in distinguishing between players of differing performance level in Australian football, while the 10 mSS and CODST were not. This result suggests that traditional closed skill sprint and sprint with direction change tests may not adequately distinguish between players of different levels of competition in Australian football. © 2006 Sports Medicine Australia.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003002132
Quantifying cricket fast-bowling skill
- Authors: Feros, Simon , Young, Warren , O’Brien, Brendan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance Vol. 13, no. 7 (2018), p. 830-838
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- Description: Objectives: To evaluate the current evidence regarding the quantification of cricket fast-bowling skill. Methods: Studies that assessed fast-bowling skill (bowling speed and accuracy) were identified from searches in SPORTDiscus (EBSCO) in June 2017. The reference lists of identified papers were also examined for relevant investigations. Results: A total of 16 papers matched the inclusion criteria, and discrepancies in assessment procedures were evident. Differences in test environment, pitch, and cricket ball characteristics; the warm-up prior to test; test familiarization procedures; permitted run-up lengths; bowling spell length; delivery sequence; test instructions; collection of bowling speed data; and collection and reportage of bowling accuracy data were apparent throughout the literature. The reliability and sensitivity of fast-bowling skill measures have rarely been reported across the literature. Only 1 study has attempted to assess the construct validity of its skill measures. Conclusions: There are several discrepancies in how fast-bowling skill has been assessed and subsequently quantified in the literature to date. This is a problem, because comparisons between studies are often difficult. Therefore, a strong rationale exists for the creation of match-specific standardized fast-bowling assessments that offer greater ecological validity while maintaining acceptable reliability and sensitivity of the skill measures. If prospective research can act on the proposed recommendations from this review, then coaches will be able to make more informed decisions surrounding player selection, talent identification, return to skill following injury, and the efficacy of short- and long-term training interventions for fast bowlers.
Analysis of a reactive agility test using a live tester
- Authors: Willey, Benjamin , Young, Warren , O'Brien, Brendan
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning
- Relation: Vol. 27, no. 2 (2019), p. 19-31
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The utility of a reactive agility test using a live tester (LRAT) was investigated by assessing the variability and reliability of the tester’s movements. Of interest was how the tester’s actions influenced the agility measure of total test time (Ttt). Thirty-one (N=31) semi-elite Australian Rules football players were used to investigate the impact of tester time (TT) variability. A single subject was employed as the test presenter. The LRAT was presented to the playing group on two occasions (test 1 and test 2) separated by a period of 47 days. The impact of the TT on the subject’s agility was investigated for test 1 only. The TT displayed between subject variability within a session. The TT was initiated by the testers’ forward movement and ceased the instant the tester planted his outside foot to change direction. This was represented by the coefficient of variation, and the range expressed as a percentage of the mean. These were 4.8% and 25.6%, respectively. To understand the impact of this, subjects were ranked from fastest to slowest for Ttt, before being re-ranked after the TT was removed. This resulted in 22 out of the 31 subjects changing rank. The test-retest for the TT revealed a very large and significant decrease in time (p = .0001). This was accompanied by an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of -0.04. Thus, the TT failed to provide a stable measure. Based on these findings it is recommended that measures such as agility time (AT), i.e. Ttt minus the TT, be used instead of Ttt. Further, isolating measures of perception and decision-making abilities (PDM) from the physical qualities is recommended to enhance agility inferences.
Relationship between selected physical qualities, bowling kinematics, and pace bowling skill in club-standard cricketers
- Authors: Feros, Simon , Young, Warren , O'Brien, Brendan
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol. 33, no. 10 (Oct 2019), p. 2812-2825
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- Description: Although strength and conditioning of cricket pace bowlers has become more specialized in recent times, little is understood about the interplay between physical capacities, pace bowling kinematics, and pace bowling skill measures. This study sought to determine these interrelationships. Thirty-one male club-standard pace bowlers completed 3 test sessions on separate occasions 4-7 days apart. The first testing session comprised an 8-over pace bowling assessment, where bowling skill and selected bowling kinematics were measured. A physical test battery was completed over the remaining 2 sessions. Peak and mean ball release (BR) speed were related with 1 repetition maximum pull-up strength (r(s) = 0.56, p = 0.005) and correlated with 20-m sprint time (r(s) = -0.42, p = 0.022; r(s) = -0.37, p = 0.044, respectively). Mean radial error was associated with 10-m and 20-m sprint times (r(s) = 0.41, p = 0.030; r(s) = 0.38, p = 0.037, respectively), and correlated with height and peak power from 3 countermovement jumps (CMJs) (r(s) = -0.39, p = 0.036; r(s) = -0.41, p = 0.031, respectively), and mean peak power from 20 CMJs (r(s) = -0.45, p = 0.020). Bivariate variable error was correlated with front-leg extension angle at BR (r(s) = 0.41, p = 0.036), and also with approach speed (r(s) = -0.36, p = 0.050). These relationships may assist strength and conditioning coaches in designing more effective training programs to enhance bowling speed and accuracy. Training interventions are warranted, however, to validate these associations.