Influence of Congested Match Schedules, Pre-Match Well-Being and Level of Opponents on Match Loads during World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series

Daniele Conte, Aristide Guerriero, Corrado Lupo, Ademir Felipe Schultz Arruda and Paulius Kamarauskas
Additional contact information
Daniele Conte: Latvian Academy of Sport Education, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia
Aristide Guerriero: Brazilian Rugby Confederation, São Paulo 04575, SP, Brazil
Corrado Lupo: NeuroMuscular Function Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences (SUISM), University of Turin, I-10125 Turin, Italy
Ademir Felipe Schultz Arruda: Brazilian Rugby Confederation, São Paulo 04575, SP, Brazil
Paulius Kamarauskas: Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed at assessing (1) the effect of congested match schedules on match loads and well-being as well as (2) pre-match well-being and level of opponents on match loads in elite women’s rugby sevens. Eleven players of the Brazilian women’s rugby sevens national team were investigated across three 2019-20 HSVC World Rugby Women’s Seven Series tournaments to assess: (1) within-tournament match-to-match changes in various external and internal match load measures; (2) daily changes in players’ well-being collected before the commencement of a tournament (day one) and during or post-tournament (day two to day four); and (3) the effect of pre-match well-being and level of opponents (high vs. low level) on match loads. Results revealed no between-match significant differences ( p > 0.05) in most of the investigated match load measures. A congested match schedule negatively affected perceived fatigue ( p < 0.001), muscle soreness ( p = 0.004) and overall wellness ( p < 0.001), with post hoc analyses showing decreased values on day four compared to previous days (small-to-moderate effect sizes). Finally, pre-match well-being and level of opponents did not affect match loads ( p > 0.05). These results highlighted the necessity to embrace a multidimensional approach when adopting monitoring systems in elite women’s rugby sevens during tournaments and to consider various contextual factors possibly affecting match loads, besides those investigated.

Keywords: GPS; external load; RPE; internal load; wellness; congested fixture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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