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van Tonder R, Hendricks S, Starling L, Surmon S, Viviers P, Kraak W, Stokes KA, Derman W, Brown JC. Tackling the tackle 2: Evaluation of referee and player behavioural change as measures of implementation of a law variation in community-level male amateur rugby union. J Sci Med Sport 2024; 27:63-70. [PMID: 38030441 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate player and referee behaviour during a lower tackle height law variation trial in community rugby union ('rugby'). DESIGN Prospective observational cohort study. METHODS In a law variation trial in male amateur community rugby, coded match video surveillance data were analysed. Referee (sanctioning rate) and player (tackler body position) behaviour changes over one season (under the lowered, armpit-level maximum legal tackle height condition) were analysed in three approximately equal periods of the season. Secondarily, an independent professional referee reviewed illegal high tackle sanctioning data. RESULTS Overall, 108 matches with 14,780 tackles were filmed and coded. Sanctioned illegal high tackle propensity was significantly higher in the mid-season (41 sanctioned high tackles/1000 tackle events; 95 % CI: 35-47), compared with first and last periods. Upright tacklers in tackles decreased significantly in the final vs. middle period of the season (rate ratio: 0.69; 95 % CI: 0.54-0.88; p < 0.01). Of all the coder-determined high tackles also assessed as high under the new law by the independent referee, 51 % were sanctioned by the on-field referee. CONCLUSIONS Positive player and referee behavioural changes were observed during a lowered legal tackle height law variation in this community rugby setting. Increased mid-phase high tackle sanctioning by referees was followed by fewer tackles with upright tacklers in the subsequent (last) phase of the season. Encouraging positive behaviour changes of this nature, particularly if sustained (beyond trial study periods), may contribute to overall injury risk reduction, and hold considerable importance to inform future injury prevention strategies in rugby.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riaan van Tonder
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; IOC Research Centre, South Africa.
| | - Sharief Hendricks
- Division of Physiological Sciences and Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK. https://twitter.com/sharief_h
| | - Lindsay Starling
- UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, UK; Centre for Health and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, UK; World Rugby House, UK. https://twitter.com/starling_linds
| | - Sean Surmon
- Stellenbosch University, Maties Sport, South Africa. https://twitter.com/seansurmon
| | - Pierre Viviers
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Stellenbosch University Campus Health Service, South Africa; IOC Research Centre, South Africa. https://twitter.com/thematiesdoc
| | - Wilbur Kraak
- Division of Sport Science, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, South Africa; Department of Sport, Recreation, and Exercise Science, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. https://twitter.com/Coachwilbur
| | - Keith A Stokes
- UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, UK; Centre for Health and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, UK; Medical Services, Rugby Football Union, UK. https://twitter.com/drkeithstokes
| | - Wayne Derman
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; IOC Research Centre, South Africa. https://twitter.com/wderman
| | - James Craig Brown
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK; IOC Research Centre, South Africa. https://twitter.com/jamesbrown06
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