Strength and conditioning practices of high school rugby coaches: A South African context

Journal article


Bradley Robinson, Lee Pote and Candice Christie 2019. Strength and conditioning practices of high school rugby coaches: A South African context. South African Journal of Science. 115 (9/10), pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/5837
AuthorsBradley Robinson, Lee Pote and Candice Christie
Abstract

Although rugby union as a sport is well established, the strength and conditioning practices of high school level players are not well known. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine the current strength and conditioning practices that coaches implement at South African high school level rugby. A secondary purpose was to compare practices between high schools of different socio-economic status in South Africa. An online survey or in person interview (depending on the school) was conducted and 43 responses were received: from 28 coaches at schools among the top 100 rugby schools in South Africa for 2016 and from 15 coaches at no-fee public schools in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Most coaches (72%) performed some form of physical testing, with the most common parameter tested being 'speed'. The most common strength and conditioning practices utilised included flexibility (stretching), speed (free sprinting), agility (cone drills), plyometric (box drills) and resistance (weight lifting) training. Unlike the no-fee schools, the top 100 rugby schools implemented conditioning practices similar to best-known international practices. Furthermore, no-fee school coaches did not have the qualifications necessary to administer the correct training techniques. Education and upskilling on the best strength and conditioning practices for school level coaches need to be improved, particularly in less privileged schools. Such improvement is crucial to the transformation goals set out by the South African Rugby Union, which would benefit from player development in lower socio-economic schools.

SIGNIFICANCE:
•The top 100 rugby playing schools in the country implement similar strength and conditioning practices to the best known international practices.
•Education of coaches is key to the implementation of correct strength and conditioning practices, specifically at underprivileged schools

Keywordstraining ; sport; service
Year2019
JournalSouth African Journal of Science
Journal citation115 (9/10), pp. 1-6
PublisherAcademy of Science of South Africa, South Africa
ISSN1996-7489
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/5837
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/5837
Output statusPublished
Publication dates26 Sep 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted06 May 2019
Deposited19 Apr 2023
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/9y2v7/strength-and-conditioning-practices-of-high-school-rugby-coaches-a-south-african-context

  • 39
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Relative age effect in male and female elite international amateur boxing
Kim, V, Pote, L., Groom, R., Thomson, E and Nicholls, S.B 2024. Relative age effect in male and female elite international amateur boxing. Journal of Sports Sciences. pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2024.2413722
Physiological and Perceptual Demands During a Simulated “The Hundred” Batting Work-Bout in Female Cricketers
Pote, L., Nicholls, S., Shaw, A., Keenan, J. and Christie, C.J. 2024. Physiological and Perceptual Demands During a Simulated “The Hundred” Batting Work-Bout in Female Cricketers. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise. pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-024-00287-8
Do South African international cricket pace bowlers have similar bowling volume and injury risk associates compared to other elite fast bowlers?
Christie, C.J., McEwan, K., Munro, C., King, G., Le Roux, A., Olivier, B., Jackson, B., Manjra, S., MacMillan, C. and Pote, L. 2023. Do South African international cricket pace bowlers have similar bowling volume and injury risk associates compared to other elite fast bowlers? International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231174301
Anthropometric and morphological characteristics of elite male cricket bowlers and batters over time: A systematic review
Nicholls, S., Pote, L., Christie, C. and King, G 2023. Anthropometric and morphological characteristics of elite male cricket bowlers and batters over time: A systematic review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231176441
The Change in Test Cricket Performance Following the Introduction of T20 Cricket
Scott Nicholls, Pote, L., Edward Thomson and Nicola Theis 2023. The Change in Test Cricket Performance Following the Introduction of T20 Cricket. Sports Innovation Journal. 4, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.18060/26438
The effect of time of day on adolescent fast bowling performance: A pilot study
Belinda C Campbell, Jonathan P Davy, Lee Pote and Candice J Christie 2022. The effect of time of day on adolescent fast bowling performance: A pilot study. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 18 (2), pp. 584-593. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221080630
Physical profiling of international cricket players: an investigation between bowlers and batters
Anthony Weldon, Neil Clarke, Lee Pote and Chris Bishop 2020. Physical profiling of international cricket players: an investigation between bowlers and batters. Biology of Sport. 38 (4), p. 507–515. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2021.100148
Injuries in high school level rugby union: how do coaches manage injuries?
Pote, L., Robinson, B. and Candice Christie 2020. Injuries in high school level rugby union: how do coaches manage injuries? Human Movement. pp. 50-56. https://doi.org/10.5114/hm.2021.98464
Workload Monitoring in Team Sports: Using Elite Cricket as an Example
Candice J. Christie, Devon Vernon Barnard, Lee Pote and Catherine E. Munro 2020. Workload Monitoring in Team Sports: Using Elite Cricket as an Example. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics. 54, p. 271–274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00085-8
Workloads of forward and backline adolescent rugby players: a pilot study
Devon Vernon Barnard, Lee Pote and Candice Christie 2020. Workloads of forward and backline adolescent rugby players: a pilot study. South African Journal of Sports Medicine. 32, pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516x/2020/v32i1a7427
Strength and conditioning practices of franchise-level cricket trainers
Lee Pote, Greg King and Candice Christie 2020. Strength and conditioning practices of franchise-level cricket trainers. South African Journal of Sports Medicine. 32 (1), pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516x/2020/v32i1a7786
The impact of a fast bowling spell on physiological, perceptual and performance responses in non-elite cricketers
L Pote, S Proctor, K McEwan, C Christie and Pote, L. 2019. The impact of a fast bowling spell on physiological, perceptual and performance responses in non-elite cricketers. South African Journal of Sports Medicine. 31 (1), pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.17159/5624
Strength and Sprint Time Changes in Response to Repeated Shuttles Between the Wickets During Batting in Cricket
Candice Jo-Anne Christie, Bronwyn Sheppard, David Goble, Lee Pote and Timothy D. Noakes 2019. Strength and Sprint Time Changes in Response to Repeated Shuttles Between the Wickets During Batting in Cricket. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 33 (11), pp. 3056-3064. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000002585
Workloads placed on adolescent cricket players: A pilot study
Lee Pote and Candice J Christie 2019. Workloads placed on adolescent cricket players: A pilot study. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 14 (1), pp. 107-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954118810505
Effect of expertise on pacing strategies and sprint performance in batsmen
Christie, C.J., Elliot, A., Pote, L., Steenekamp, T., Billaut, F. and Noakes, T.D. 2018. Effect of expertise on pacing strategies and sprint performance in batsmen. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. pp. 513-517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.07.021
A novel intervention program (cricfit) for the strength and conditioning of adolescent cricket players
Lee Pote and Candice Christie 2018. A novel intervention program (cricfit) for the strength and conditioning of adolescent cricket players. Human Movement. 19 (1), pp. 34-43. https://doi.org/10.5114/hm.2018.73610
Injury Prevention Strategies in Cricket
Lee Pote and Candice J. Christie 2018. Injury Prevention Strategies in Cricket. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 40 (5), pp. 34-43. https://doi.org/10.1519/ssc.0000000000000409
Physiological responses of batsmen during a simulated One Day International century
Pote, L. and Christie, C. J. 2016. Physiological responses of batsmen during a simulated One Day International century. South African Journal of Sports Medicine. 28 (2), pp. 39-42. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516x/2016/v28i2a163
Strength and Conditioning Practices of University and High School Level Cricket Coaches: A South African Context
Pote, L. and Christie, C.J. 2016. Strength and Conditioning Practices of University and High School Level Cricket Coaches: A South African Context. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001432
Selected physiological and perceptual responses during a simulated limited overs century in non-elite batsmen
Pote, L. and Christie, C.J. 2015. Selected physiological and perceptual responses during a simulated limited overs century in non-elite batsmen. European Journal of Sport Science. 16 (6), pp. 654-660. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1094145
Physiological and perceptual demands of high intensity sprinting between the wickets in cricket
Pote, L. and Christie, C. 2014. Physiological and perceptual demands of high intensity sprinting between the wickets in cricket. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching. 9 (6), pp. 1375 - 1382. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.9.6.1375