Abstract
The identification of specific movement patterns and associated physical and physiological demands during match play is important for optimising the training and preparation of rugby union referees. Therefore, using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) units and heart rate (HR) recordings, the first aim of this PhD thesis was to provide a better understanding of the physical and physiological demands that rugby union referees encounter when officiating at different competitive levels (i.e., amateur to professional) during sevens (Chapter Four) and 15-a-side (Chapter Five) matches. The results showed that refereeing rugby sevens and 15-a-side is more physically demanding at higher competitive levels (e.g., elite), particularly in terms of high-intensity efforts. For example, compared with referees officiating at the amateur level, international, professional, and semi-professional level, referees completed more sprints during rugby sevens matches. Moreover, during 15a-side rugby matches, professional level referees sprinted for longer durations and covered more distance sprinting than semi-professional and amateur level referees.The fitness tests used to assess rugby referees’ readiness to officiate have been based on general tests for team sport players, and therefore may not accurately reflect the physical and physiological demands placed upon rugby referees. Thus, using GNSS and HR data, a second aim of this PhD thesis was to compare commonly used fitness tests among rugby referees (i.e., Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 vs. Bronco), and to examine whether the results of these tests were associated with the physical and physiological demands of 15-a-side rugby matches at amateur competitive level (Chapter Six). The results suggested that the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 and Bronco tests were significantly correlated. Additionally, the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 showed more significant correlations with match demands (e.g., total distance, sprints) than the Bronco test, and therefore could be regarded as the more valuable test to assess the match fitness of 15-a-side rugby referees.
It is vital that the decision-making of rugby referees during match play is accurate, and that the various factors that influence the decision-making accuracy of rugby referees are better understood. Accordingly, using GNSS and HR data along with video coding of matches, the third aim of this PhD thesis was to examine if the decision-making accuracy of rugby referees was associated with physical and physiological match demands prior to each decision, as well as score difference, field location, and referee positioning during an elite rugby sevens tournament (Chapter Seven). The results suggested that referee decision making accuracy at the breakdown (a match event comprising the tackle and ruck) remained relatively consistent across matches (e.g., first vs. second halves) and stages (e.g., group vs. knockout) of the elite rugby sevens tournament and was unaffected by match demands 30 seconds prior to the decision, as well as score difference and field location. However, better decision-making accuracy was associated with more optimal referee positioning.
Overall, this PhD thesis advances our understanding of rugby union refereeing, specifically in terms of the physical and physiological match demands when officiating at different competitive levels (e.g., amateur to professional), the adequacy of commonly used fitness tests (i.e., Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 and Bronco), and the factors impacting decision-making (e.g., field location, referee positioning). In doing so, this PhD thesis provides important information that can be used by applied practitioners (e.g., strength and conditioning coaches) to improve the fitness and performance of rugby union referees.
| Date of Award | 27 Apr 2022 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Keith Stokes (Supervisor), Simon Roberts (Supervisor) & Lee Moore (Supervisor) |
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