Pearce, Leesa A., Sinclair, Wade H., Leicht, Anthony S., and Woods, Carl T. (2018) Physical, anthropometric and athletic movement qualities discriminate development level in a rugby league talent pathway. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (11). pp. 3169-3176.

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Abstract

This study compared the physical, anthropometric and athletic movement qualities of talent identified rugby league (RL) players within a development pathway. From a total of 174 players, three developmental levels were defined: under 18 (U18; n = 52), under 20 (U20; n = 53), and state league (SL; n = 69). All players performed a test battery that consisted of five physical assessments, two anthropometric measurements and an athletic movement assessment. A multivariate analysis of variance modelled the main effect of developmental level (Three levels: U18, U20 and SL) on test criterion variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then built for the criterion variables that showed a significant developmental level effect. A significant effect was noted (V = 0.775, F = 5.43, P <0.05), with the SL players outperforming their U18 and U20 counterparts for measures of body mass, peak and average lower limb power, double lunge (left side), single leg Romanian deadlift (left and right sides), the push up, and total athletic ability assessment score (P<0.05; d = 0.35 – 1.21). The ROC curves generated an area under the curve of greater than 65% for each test criterion, indicating greater than chance discrimination. These results highlight the physical, anthropometric and athletic movement qualities discriminant of development level within a rugby league talent pathway. Practitioners are encouraged to consider the thresholds from the ROC curves as an objective guide to assist with the development of physical performance qualities that may augment player progression in Australian rugby league.

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