Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept
Rugby union is a field sport that is played at amateur and professional levels by male and female players globally. One of the most prevalent injury risks associated with the sport involves tackle collisions with opposition players. This suggests that a targeted injury reduction strategy could focus...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/9/3315 |
| _version_ | 1797502865317560320 |
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| author | Ed Daly Patrick Esser Alan Griffin Damien Costello Justin Servis David Gallagher Lisa Ryan |
| author_facet | Ed Daly Patrick Esser Alan Griffin Damien Costello Justin Servis David Gallagher Lisa Ryan |
| author_sort | Ed Daly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rugby union is a field sport that is played at amateur and professional levels by male and female players globally. One of the most prevalent injury risks associated with the sport involves tackle collisions with opposition players. This suggests that a targeted injury reduction strategy could focus on the tackle area in the game. In amateur rugby union, injuries to the head, face and shoulder are the most common injury sites in youth rugby playing populations. A suboptimal tackle technique may contribute to an increased injury risk in these populations. One proposed mitigation strategy to reduce tackle-related injuries in youth populations may be to increase tackle proficiency by coaching an effective tackle technique. The present study aimed to demonstrate a proof of concept for a tackle technique coaching platform using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a bespoke mobile application developed for a mobile device (i.e., a mobile phone). The test battery provided a proof of concept for the primary objective of modelling the motion of a player in a tackle event. The prototype (bespoke mobile application) modelled the IMU in a 3D space and demonstrated the orientation during a tackle event. The participants simulated ten tackle events that were ten degrees above and ten degrees below the zero degree of approach, and these (unsafe tackles) were indicated by a red light on the mobile display unit. The parameters of ten degrees above and below the zero angle of approach were measured using an inclinometer mobile application. These tackle event simulations provided a real-time stream of data that displayed the angle of tackles on a mobile device. The novel coaching platform could therefore constitute part of an injury reduction strategy for amateur or novice coaches to instruct safer tackle practice in youth rugby playing populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:42:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abb81d4e9e734556a98b9a53e3cae806 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:42:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-abb81d4e9e734556a98b9a53e3cae8062023-11-23T09:16:37ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-04-01229331510.3390/s22093315Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of ConceptEd Daly0Patrick Esser1Alan Griffin2Damien Costello3Justin Servis4David Gallagher5Lisa Ryan6Department of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), H91 T8NW Galway, IrelandDepartment of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UKDepartment of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), H91 T8NW Galway, IrelandDepartment of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), H91 T8NW Galway, IrelandDepartment of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), H91 T8NW Galway, IrelandDepartment of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), H91 T8NW Galway, IrelandDepartment of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), H91 T8NW Galway, IrelandRugby union is a field sport that is played at amateur and professional levels by male and female players globally. One of the most prevalent injury risks associated with the sport involves tackle collisions with opposition players. This suggests that a targeted injury reduction strategy could focus on the tackle area in the game. In amateur rugby union, injuries to the head, face and shoulder are the most common injury sites in youth rugby playing populations. A suboptimal tackle technique may contribute to an increased injury risk in these populations. One proposed mitigation strategy to reduce tackle-related injuries in youth populations may be to increase tackle proficiency by coaching an effective tackle technique. The present study aimed to demonstrate a proof of concept for a tackle technique coaching platform using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a bespoke mobile application developed for a mobile device (i.e., a mobile phone). The test battery provided a proof of concept for the primary objective of modelling the motion of a player in a tackle event. The prototype (bespoke mobile application) modelled the IMU in a 3D space and demonstrated the orientation during a tackle event. The participants simulated ten tackle events that were ten degrees above and ten degrees below the zero degree of approach, and these (unsafe tackles) were indicated by a red light on the mobile display unit. The parameters of ten degrees above and below the zero angle of approach were measured using an inclinometer mobile application. These tackle event simulations provided a real-time stream of data that displayed the angle of tackles on a mobile device. The novel coaching platform could therefore constitute part of an injury reduction strategy for amateur or novice coaches to instruct safer tackle practice in youth rugby playing populations.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/9/3315injury risktackle safetyinertial measurement unitrugby union |
| spellingShingle | Ed Daly Patrick Esser Alan Griffin Damien Costello Justin Servis David Gallagher Lisa Ryan Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept Sensors injury risk tackle safety inertial measurement unit rugby union |
| title | Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept |
| title_full | Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept |
| title_short | Development of a Novel Coaching Platform to Improve Tackle Technique in Youth Rugby Players: A Proof of Concept |
| title_sort | development of a novel coaching platform to improve tackle technique in youth rugby players a proof of concept |
| topic | injury risk tackle safety inertial measurement unit rugby union |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/9/3315 |
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