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The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of defensive pressure on the execution of attacking skills in international women's rugby sevens. Performance analyses were conducted across 42 training camp drills during the 2012–2013 season. Training camp sessions were recorded using a video camera positioned from an aerial perspective, with the attacking team's performance analysed during game-based drills. Technical skills assessed included pass type, pass accuracy, catching, evasive moves and line breaks. Results indicated that defensive pressure had a significant effect on a player's pass type, evasive moves and line breaks (p < 0.05), but no significant effect on passing accuracy and catching skill (p > 0.05). A cut-out pass (standard residual = 3.3) was more likely to happen than expected by chance during no defence. An offload was more likely to occur than expected by chance during contested defence (standard residual = 9.6). A line break (standard residual = 4.7) and a swerve (standard residual = 2.5) were more likely to happen than expected by chance during contested defence. Coaches should progressively overload the degree of defensive pressure during training. This may encourage the performance of non-conventional passes under contested defensive pressure, more closely reflecting the requisites of competition game-play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training camps in the present study consisted of four sessions over two to four days, to prepare players for international competitions. Training camps focused on improving the technical and decision making skills in context with team tactics, however it is unknown if the physical demands were being developed or maintained concurrently. Due to the unknown physical demands of training camps, the present study sought to quantify the movement patterns and compare sessions of preparation training camps for international women's rugby sevens players. Twenty-four international female sevens players (age 24 ± 5 years, height 168 ± 5 cm, body mass 68 ± 6 kg; mean ± SD) were monitored over seven training camps using Global Positioning System units with integrated triaxial accelerometers. Women's sevens players covered a median total distance of 3823m (relative distance of 44m/min) during training camp sessions that lasted for an average duration of 91 minutes. Sprints occurred 41 times and repeated sprints occurred 14 times during training sessions at a rate of 0.47 sprints per minute and 0.17 repeated sprints per minute. The present study indicated that as a result of the technical and tactical focus of training camps the physical demands maybe insufficient to enhance physiological adaptations. Instead it appears that players are being prepared for upcoming competition by reducing residual fatigue and optimising freshness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As most golf exercise studies have shown improved golf performance as a result of two or three sessions per week, the present study investigated the effects of a supervised exercise session performed once a week for seven weeks on golf swing variables and musculoskeletal screening measures. Professional Golfers Association of Australia International Golf Institute student golfers (n=43) with a mean±standard deviation handicap of 8.6±8.3 participated in the study. Each golfer performed 10 musculoskeletal tests and a standardised 60-shot golf performance test (TrackMan, Vedbaek, Denmark) on separate days before and after the seven-week program. Significant improvements in a number of musculoskeletal tests (i.e. left leg bridging (6.6%), thoracic extension (62.5%), right thoracic rotation (23.3%), and right (20.8%) and left single leg squat (29.1%)) were observed (all p≤0.024); however, no significant differences were observed for any golf swing variables. Future research investigating different training protocols may help to determine whether the type or frequency of training has the greatest influence on golf swing performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Girevoy sport (GS) has developed only recently in the West, resulting in a paucity of English scientific literature available. The aim was to document kettlebell trajectory of GS athletes performing the kettlebell snatch. Four elite GS athletes (age = 29-47 years, body mass = 68.3-108.1 kg, height 1.72-1.89 m) completed one set of 16 repetitions with a 32.1 kg kettlebell. Trajectory was captured with the VICON motion analysis system (250 Hz) and analysed with VICON Nexus (1.7.1). The kettlebell followed a 'C' shape trajectory in the sagittal plane. Mean peak velocity in the upwards phase was 4.03 ± 0.20 m s-1, compared to 3.70 ± 0.30 m s-1 during the downwards phase, and mean radial error across the sagittal and frontal planes was 0.022 ± 0.006 m. Low error in the movement suggests consistent trajectory is important to reduce extraneous movement and improve efficiency. While the kettlebell snatch and swing both require large anterior-posterior motion, the snatch requires the kettlebell to be held stationary overhead. Therefore, a different coaching application is required to that of a barbell snatch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes how strongman implements, which we defined as "any non-traditional implement integrated into strength and conditioning practice" are currently utilised by coaches to enhance athletic performance. Coaches (mean ±SD 34.0 ±8.2 y old, 9.8 ±6.7 y general strength and conditioning coaching experience) completed a self-reported 4-page survey. The subject group included coaches of amateur (n = 74), semi-professional (n = 38) and professional (n = 108) athletes. Eighty-eight percent (n = 193) of coaches reported using strongman implements in the training of their athletes. Coaches ranked sleds, ropes, kettlebells, tyres, sandbags and farmers walk bars as the top six implements used, and anaerobic/metabolic conditioning, explosive strength/power and muscle endurance as the three main physiological reasons for its use. The strongman implements were typically used in combination with traditional exercises in a gymnasium-based setting. Future research needs to evaluate the performance benefits of such training practices in controlled studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]