@article{ref1,
title="The effect of physical fatigue on tackling technique in Rugby Union",
journal="Journal of science and medicine in sport",
year="2020",
author="Davidow, Demi and Redman, Matthew and Lambert, Mike and Burger, Nicholas and Smith, Mitchel and Jones, Ben and Hendricks, Sharief",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To measure the change in tackling technique of rugby union players following an acute bout of physically fatiguing exercise. <br><br>DESIGN: Randomised cross-over study design with a physical fatigue condition and no-physical fatigue condition (control). <br><br>METHODS: Nineteen male amateur club rugby union players (n=19) and a total of 887 tackles were analysed. During each condition, each player performed four sets of six tackles (three dominant and three non-dominant shoulder) on a contact simulator. Between each set of tackles in the physical fatigue condition, players performed the prolonged high-intensity intermittent running ability test. Using video, player's tackling proficiency for each tackle was measured by awarding either one point or zero points depending on whether a particular technique was performed or not. The sum of these points represents player's tackling proficiency (score out of 9, measured in arbitrary units). <br><br>RESULTS: In the non-dominant shoulder, a difference between fatigue and control was found at set two (Fatigue 7.3 [7.1-7.6] AU vs. Control 7.6 [7.4-7.9] AU, p=0.06, ES=0.3 small) and set three (Fatigue 7.3 [7.0-7.5] AU vs. Control 7.7 [7.5-7.9] AU, p=0.006, ES=0.5 small). During the control condition, tackling proficiency scores improved from baseline for non-dominant tackles (Baseline 7.4 [7.2-7.6] AU, vs Set two 7.6 [7.4-7.9] AU, p=0.08 ES=0.3 small; vs Set three 7.7 [7.5-7.9] AU, p=0.05, ES=0.4 small). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study shows that physical fatigue can potentially affect rugby union players' tackling technique. Therefore, players should develop technical capacity to resist the effects of physical fatigue during the tackle.<br><br>Copyright © 2020 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1440-2440",
doi="10.1016/j.jsams.2020.04.005",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.04.005"
}