http://www.rugbycanada.ca
Athlete Assessment:
Stfx Womens Rugby
By: Kortney Matchett, Ann-Terese MacDonald, Jenn Lee
Introduction to the Sport
• Rugby: Intermittent, high intensity sport
• Team consists of 15 athletes
• Divided into 8 forwards and 7 backs
• Forwards = the tacklers
• Backs = the runners
• Objective: move the ball down the field into
the other teams half
• Matches are 80 minutes
• Divided into two 40 min halves with a 10
minute break in between
(Gabbet, King & Jenkins, 2008).
http://albatrossrfc.yolasite.co
m/positions-in-rugby.php
Introduction to the Sport
• Only allowed to throw the ball backwards
• But the ball can be carried or kicked
forwards
• The opposing team is allowed to tackle the
advancing team in order to gain possession
of the ball
• If the ball advances past the goal line of the
opposite team points or a try is scored
• Competition season: September –
November
(Gabbet, King & Jenkins, 2008).
http://albatrossrfc.yolasite.co
m/positions-in-rugby.php
Introduction of the Athlete
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Female Rugby Player
Year of age: 20
Weight: 143lbs
Height: 5’ 7”
BMI = 22.4
Position: Outside Center (Back Position)
Obtains information on health from various
university level heath classes, personal
experience, word of mouth, and common sense
http://www.rugbyfever.com
http://albatrossrfc.yolasite.com/positi
ons-in-rugby.php
Energy Systems
• Back Position = Mainly high-intensity
• Creatine Phosphate
• Used during tackling and sprinting,
passing, and jumping
• Lasts 5-10 seconds
• Creatine stores can be maintained by
consuming animal sourced foods
(Doyle, Dunford, 2012)
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/energy.htm
Energy Systems
• Anaerobic Glycolysis
• Main energy system used due to the
“stop and go” of the sport
• Used for sprints, or repeated high
intensity sprints of the game
• Lasts for as long 2 minutes
• Can be maintained with adequate
amount of CHO consumed
(Holway, Spriet, 2011)
(Doyle, Dunford, 2012)
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/energy.htm
Energy Systems
• Oxidative Phosphorylation
• Is aerobic (uses oxygen)
• Used after 2 minutes
• Within the sport, used when she is
standing, walking, jogging and running
for long periods of time
• Uses fat as the main source of energy
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/energy.htm
Training Regime
• 6 days/week
• 2 hours/day
• Mostly endurance training during practices with some aspects
of strength required
• Does her own resistance training (1/4 of the time/day)
• No specific nutrition plan followed to support training:
http://www.gymprofessor.com/workouts/sportsspecific-workouts/rugby-power-training-gymworkout/
• Eats healthy and stay hydrated
• Does not eat heavy before training/game but instead eats after
(usually high in CHO)
• Nutrients that performance is best dependent on
• Water
• Low glycemic index CHO
What does Game day look like?
Time of Day
Breakfast
8:00am
Pre-Event
3:00pm
Game Time
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Post Event
10:00pm
4. Post-Game
2. PreGame
1. Breakfast
3. Game
http://www.printfree.com/Kids/ClockFace.htm
Nutritional Issues Related to Rugby
• Pre-game meal:
• Enough CHO
• Achieving euhydrationr
• During Event:
•
•
•
•
Delay Fatigue
Avoid Hunger
Avoid GI upset
Avoid Hypohydration
http://fitnessgurunyc.com/tag/hydration/
• Post:
•
•
•
•
Replenish CHO
PRO and AA replenishment
Replenish water and sodium
Avoid GI upset
http://www.craigcarrollpt.com/201
1/01/?cat=3
Athlete Recommendations
(Pre-Event)
Pre-event
KCAL
CHO
PRO
FAT
WATER
N/A
3-4.5g/kg
=195-292.5g
1.2-1.4g/kg
=78-91g
1g/kg
=65g
5-7ml/kg
=325-455ml
3-5ml/kg
-195-325ml
Athletes
Total
1086kcal
190g
20.8g
32.3g
600ml
300ml
NAH
YEAH
NAH
NAH
YEAH
Athlete Recommendations
(During Event)
KCAL
CHO
PRO
FAT
WATER
During Event N/A
30-60g/h
=60-120g
0g
0g
Customized
to tolerance
Athletes
Total
12.8g
0g
0g
400ml
NAH
YEAH
YEAH
COULD DO
BETTER
52kcal
Athlete Recommendations
(Post-Event)
KCAL
CHO
PRO
FAT
WATER
Post - Event
N/A
1.5g/kg
=97.5g
10-20g
1g/kg=65g
1.5L/kg
weight loss
Athletes
Total
439kcal
19.85g
80.32g
5.3g
600ml
NAH
NAH
YEAH
NAH
NAH
Practical Issues that a Rugby
Player Faces
• Hydration during the event
• Unless multiple subs, hydration can only occur when a try occurs
• Important to avoid dehydration which can negatively affect
performance
http://www.thesfmarathon.
com/2012/06/04/whatshot-in-hydration/
• CHO intake during the event
• Again, unless multiple subs CHO intake during a game is difficult
• Important for the delay of fatigue
• Nerves before the game
• Can affect GI
http://www.stockton.edu/ospreys/
Nutrition/03/Carbs12-02.htm
Overcoming Practical Issues
• Utilize the rest period
• Utilize subs
• After scoring a try, consume Gatorade instead of just
plain water
http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Gatorade
http://www.stockton.edu/ospreys/
Nutrition/03/Carbs12-02.htm
Conclusion
• Based on the one day analysis:
• Athlete was not consuming enough CHO before, during and
after the event
• Athlete was consuming enough PRO after the event
• Athlete was not consuming water during and after the event
References
•
Doyle, J., Dunford M. (2012). Nutrition for Sport and Exercise Second Edition. Belmont,
CA. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
•
Gabbett, T., King, T., Jenkins, D. (2008) Applied Phisiology of Rugby League. Sports
Medicine, 38(2). Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.stfx.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewersid=cb2414b76e68-4f4e-bbc6-88dec466bbfa%40sessionmgr12&vid=4&hid=7
•
Holway, F., Spriet, L. (2011). Sport-specific nutrition: Practical strategies for team sports.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(1). Retrieved from
http://www.tandfonline.com.libproxy.stfx.ca/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2011.605459
Questions?