title: Physiologically based GPS speed zones for evaluating running demands in Women's Rugby Sevens.
abstract: High-speed running (>5 m · s⁻¹) is commonly reported in men's rugby union and sevens; however, the appropriateness of using the same speed threshold for Women's Rugby Sevens players is unclear, and likely underestimates the degree of high-intensity exercise completed by female players. The aim of this study was to establish, for international Women's Rugby Sevens players, a physiologically defined threshold - speed at the second ventilatory threshold (VT(2peed)) - for the analysis of high-intensity running, using mean and individualised thresholds. Game movement patterns (using 5 Hz GPS) of 12 international Women's Rugby Sevens players (23.5 ± 4.9 ears, 1.68 ± 0.04 m, 68.2 ± 7.7 kg; mean ± s) were collected at an international tournament. Seven of these players also completed a treadmill VO(2max) test to estimate VT(2speed). Compared to the mean VT(2speed) threshold (3.5 m · s⁻¹), the industry-used threshold of 5 m · s⁻¹ underestimated the absolute amount of high-intensity running completed by individual players by up to 30%. Using an individualised threshold, high-intensity running could over- or underestimating high-intensity running by up to 14% compared to the mean VT(2peed) threshold. The use of individualised thresholds provides an accurate individualised assessment of game demands to inform the prescription of training.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology , Australian Institute of Sport , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Anthea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pyne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GPS; physiology; rugby sevens; women