title: Movement and physiological match demands of elite rugby league using portable global positioning systems.
abstract: Twelve elite players from an English Super League club consented to participate in the present study using portable global positioning system (GPS) devices to assess position-specific demands. Distances covered at low-intensity running, moderate-intensity running, high-intensity running, very high-intensity running, and total distance were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in forwards compared with outside backs and adjustables. Metres per minute was higher in adjustables and forwards, owing to higher values for relative distance in medium-intensity running and a rise in high-intensity running from previous absolute values. Sprint distance, sprint frequency, and peak speed were higher in outside backs than both adjustables and forwards. A moderate, significant correlation (r = 0.62, P = 0.001) was apparent between session ratings of perceived exertion and summated heart rate. Results support the requirement for position-specific conditioning and provide preliminary evidence for the use of session ratings of perceived exertion as a measure of match load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK. m.waldron@chester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Twist
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Highton
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Worsfold
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D004739:England; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult