ORIGINAL PAPER
Internal and external loads in professional women’s Rugby Sevens: analysis of a block-based training session with small games
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1
Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso – UFMT, Cuiabá, Brazil
2
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora – UFJF, Governador Valadares, Brazil
3
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, Brazil
4
Centro Universitário UDF, Brasília, Brazil
Submission date: 2024-05-07
Acceptance date: 2024-07-13
Publication date: 2024-09-30
Corresponding author
Henrique de Oliveira Castro
Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso – UFMT, Av. Fernando
Corrêa da Costa, 2367. Boa Esperança, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. 78060-900
Hum Mov. 2024;25(3):54-61
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
This study aimed to compare internal load (IL) and external load (EL) variables between blocks of a game-based Rugby Sevens training session.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. Twenty-eight professional athletes from the first division of the Brazilian national championship were monitored during a game-based training session, which consisted of varying durations of ball-in-play blocks. The training session comprised 4 blocks of 1 min, 2 blocks of 2 min, and 1 block of 3 min of ball-in-play, with 1-min intervals between blocks of the same duration and 2-min intervals between blocks of different durations.
Results:
A reduction in EL was reported during longer bouts of ball-in-play. Specifically, a reduction was observed when comparing block 5 to block 1 (p = 0.021) and when comparing block 7 with blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 for distance per min. For accelerations and decelerations, blocks 5, 6, and 7 showed lower values than block 1 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Block 4 showed an increase in rate of perceived exertion (RPE) values compared to blocks 1 (p = 0.010) and 2 (p = 0.004). Increased RPE values were also found in block 5 compared to block 1 (p = 0.001), as well as compared to blocks 2 (p = 0.001) and 3 (p = 0.002). RPE in block 7 was higher than in blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
In summary, higher RPE values were reported across blocks, and IL appeared to be more volume-dependent.
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