title: Coupling tendencies during exploratory behaviours of competing players in rugby union dyads.
abstract: This study investigated interpersonal coordination tendencies in 1vs.1 dyads in rugby union, here expressed by participants' movement velocity towards or away from the sideline as they competed to score or prevent a try. We examined whether coupling tendencies of members of each dyad shaped key performance outcomes (try or successful tackle). Data on movement displacement trajectories of eight male rugby union players (aged 11-12 years) were analysed during performance in 47 trials. To assess coordination tendencies during exploratory behaviours in the dyads, analyses of performance time series data were undertaken using variable time graphs, running correlations and cross-correlations. Results revealed distinct coupling patterns characterised by shifts between synchronous coordination and asynchronous coordination tendencies and uncoordinated actions. Observed behaviours were interpreted as attempts of competing participants to create and perceive possibilities for action while seeking to achieve specific performance goals. Findings also revealed that a variety of patterned relations between participants resulted in different performance outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a School of Education and Communication , University of the Algarve , Faro , Portugal.|b CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Vanda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: b CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.affiliation: b CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Duarte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: c Sheffield Hallam University, Centre for Sports Engineering Research , Sheffield , UK.|d FiDiPro Programme, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.affiliation: b CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana , Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: e Centre for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences , Florida Atlantic University , Boca Raton , FL , USA.|f Intelligent Systems Research Centre , University of Ulster , Derry , Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: J A Scott
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kelso
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Interpersonal coordination tendencies; dyadic sub-systems; exploratory behaviours; pattern formation; team sports