European journal of sport science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Perception of Recovery and Muscle Strength in Female Athletes","authors":"Olivia C. Coope,&nbsp;Andrea Reales Salguero,&nbsp;Tilly Spurr,&nbsp;Andrea Páez Calvente,&nbsp;Aina Domenech Farre,&nbsp;Enrique Jordán Fisas,&nbsp;Beth Lloyd,&nbsp;Julie Gooderick,&nbsp;Maria Abad Sangrà,&nbsp;Blanca Roman-Viñas","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12265","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ashwagandha is a supplement with the potential to improve exercise performance. However, research on its impact on female athletes remains limited. This study investigates the effects of ashwagandha on exercise recovery and muscle strength in professional female athletes, addressing a gap in understanding its role in this underrepresented population. Female footballers were randomly assigned to a 600 mg/day ashwagandha root extract group (ASH, <i>n</i> = 15; age: 26.0 ± 4.9 years, height: 1.66 ± 0.1 m, body mass: 61.5 ± 7.5 kg, and career: 15.2 ± 7.4 years) or a placebo group (PLA, <i>n</i> = 15; age: 23.5 ± 5.5 years, height: 1.66 ± 0.1 m, body mass: 61.5 ± 6.0 kg, and career: 13.1 ± 4.9 years). Recovery was assessed with total quality recovery (TQR), Hooper Index (HI) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Strength was assessed by hand grip, medicine ball throw (MBT), countermovement jump (CMJ) and peak power. Dietary intake was recorded prior to baseline measurements. Repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni test, independent <i>t</i>-tests and ANCOVA were used in the analysis. A significant group × time interaction effect was found for TQR (<i>p</i> = 0.026), with the post-hoc analysis revealing a significant difference between ASH and PLA at 28 days (<i>p</i> = 0.039). Perceived sleep quality from HI improved significantly in ASH compared to PLA (<i>p</i> = 0.038), with a significant change at 14 days. The ANCOVA analysis highlighted the significant influence of carbohydrate intake on hand grip strength (<i>p</i> = 0.005), MBT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and body mass (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). A dosage of 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract for 28 days may improve TQR and enhance perceived sleep quality in female footballers. Future research should investigate the optimal dosage and test across a broader range of athletic populations.</p><p><b>Trials Registration:</b> The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with the ID NCT06264986</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12265","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determining the Contextual Factors in a Decision-Making Framework for a Rugby League Ball Carrier: A Rapid Review and Delphi Study","authors":"James Bletsoe,&nbsp;Sarah Whitehead,&nbsp;Jamie Poolton,&nbsp;Kevin Till","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12271","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Using a two-phase approach in the form of a rapid literature review and Delphi consensus, this study aimed to reach consensus on the terms, definitions and potential options to develop a framework that captures the contextual factors that can affect a rugby league ball carrier’s decision-making, whilst also determining the perceived importance of these contextual factors. Forty terms, their definitions and potential options were extracted from the rapid review. In a two-round Delphi survey, experts rated their level of agreement with each term, definition and potential options on a five-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined by ≥ 80% agreement (with ≤ 10% in disagreement). The experts then rated the level of importance to a ball carrier’s decision-making of each of the terms on a seven-point Likert scale. Eighteen experts participated in round one and 15 participated in round two (response rate 83%). Five additional terms were suggested by the experts and reached consensus in the second round of the Delphi survey. In total, consensus was reached on 45 terms, their definitions and potential options, which were grouped into five themes (match context, offensive context, defensive context, offensive ball carrier skill and attacking outcomes). Seventeen of the 45 terms were perceived to be <i>important</i> or <i>very important</i>. Nine of these factors were associated with offensive context and eight factors were associated with defensive context. The framework can be used by coaches, performance analysts and researchers to better understand player in-game decisions and to support the design of training interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12271","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Individual Running Demands in Position Games: A Comparison Between Official Matches and Different Task Sizes in Young Professional Soccer Players","authors":"Jose A. Asian-Clemente,&nbsp;Jose Vicente Beltran-Garrido,&nbsp;Bernardo Requena","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12251","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The objectives of this study were to compare external loads between matches and position games based on player roles and to evaluate the load disparities between matches and different position games, individually considering each position. Twenty-five players (age: 21.9 ± 1.9 years; height: 177.9 ± 5.2 cm; weight: 75.5 ± 4.8 kg) were evaluated during 37 official matches and 18 position games classified according to their pitch sizes: small, medium, and large (50.8 ± 6.6 m², 80.5 ± 4.6 m², and 115.9 ± 25.2 m² relative area per player, respectively). Players were categorized as: central defenders (CD), fullbacks (FB), defensive midfielders (CM), offensive midfielders (OM), wide midfielders (WM), and forwards (F). Using GPS, various metrics were recorded: distance covered (DC), DC &gt; 21 km·h⁻¹, peak speed, maximum accelerations and decelerations, and lower and higher than 3 m·s⁻² (Acc_&lt;3; Acc_&gt;3; Dec_&lt;3; and Dec_&gt;3, respectively). Variables were normalized per minute (except peak speed, maximum accelerations, and decelerations). In all positions, matches consistently exhibited higher DC &gt; 21 km·h⁻¹ (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), peak speed (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), ACC_&lt;3 (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01), DEC_&lt;3 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), and maximum accelerations and decelerations (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). Small and large formats showed the same disparities across all positions (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas in medium position games, this trend was observed exclusively among FB and F (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Position games displayed greater ACC_&gt;3 and DEC_&gt;3 than matches for certain player positions, but these depended on the size of the drill (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Position games present different external loads than matches, depending on the players' positions and the size of these tasks.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12251","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations Between Match-Play Characteristics and Environmental Temperatures in 4 Professional Football Leagues","authors":"Edgar Schwarz,&nbsp;Rob Duffield,&nbsp;Andrew Roman Novak,&nbsp;Dennis Alan Compton,&nbsp;Tim Meyer","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12256","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated the association between environmental temperature and match-play characteristics (shooting, passing, dribbling and defending) in four professional football leagues. Twenty-seven performance indicators (PI's) were collated from 1585 matches from the German Bundesliga 1 and 2, Spanish La Liga and Australian A-League. Environmental data were obtained for dry-bulb temperature (T) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) retrospectively from public sources. For each league, linear regressions were used to determine relationships between PI's and T and WBGT and linear mixed models were used to determine those associations across all four leagues. Individual leagues showed varying associations between a collection of PI's and environmental measures. When combining the four leagues' match data, 8 of the 17 investigated parameters were associated with T and WBGT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.002). Passes, especially short passes, were reduced in higher T (−2.3 [−3.1 to −1.5] and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and WBGT (−3.1 [−4.0 to −2.1] and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), alongside an increase in the success rate of passes (0.06 [0.02–0.09] and <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001). The number of passes into the opponent's final third was reduced for both T (−0.18 [−0.25 to −0.05] and <i>p</i> = 0.001) and WBGT (−0.17 [−0.28 to−0.05] and <i>p</i> = 0.002), but the number of key passes leading to a shot or goal was not associated with T or WBGT (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.67). The number of touches, take-ons and turnovers were reduced in higher T and WBGT (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Accordingly, in higher heat stress, match actions, especially those performed at high volumes, are reduced. Therefore, teams should expect a possibly altered match play and may consider adapting tactical or heat-mitigating strategies to counter these effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12256","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143423765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Performance Demands and Technical Determinants for Tackle and Ruck Success During the Pool and Knockout Stages of the Men's International World Rugby Sevens Series","authors":"Fanie de Klerk,&nbsp;Ben Jones,&nbsp;Willie Maree,&nbsp;Sharief Hendricks","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12269","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12269","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The purpose of this study was to compare tackle and ruck frequencies between pool and knockout matches during the Men's International World Rugby Sevens Series and also determine which technical determinants increase the likelihood of tackle success within each stage of the tournament. Video analysis of all matches during the 2018/2019 International Men's Rugby Sevens World Series was conducted (<i>n</i> = 449 matches). This equated to 21226 tackle contact events and 6345 rucks events. Each tackle event was further coded for tackle descriptors (type of tackle, direction of contact and point of body contact) and tackle outcomes (successful and unsuccessful). No differences were found between the mean tackles per match of pool and knockout stages (pool 47.5, 95% CI 46.5–48.6 vs. knockout 46.9, 95% CI 45.7–48.0). There was a significant difference (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) in mean rucks per match between pool and knockout stages (pool 14.8, 95% CI 14.2–15.4 vs. knockout 13.3, 95% CI 12.7–13.9). In conclusion, tackle frequencies per match remained consistent across the series and between the different competition stages and match halves. Ruck frequencies on the other hand decreased from the first tournament to latter parts of the series, and fewer rucks were observed in the knockout stage of the tournaments. The frequency and higher likelihood of tackle success for arm tackles in Sevens highlights a unique demand of Sevens, which strengthens the argument for Sevens-specific tackle training and coaching.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12269","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143404323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pre-Season Energy Deficiency Predicts Poorer Performance During a Competitive Season in Collegiate Female Long-Distance Runners","authors":"Emily Ann Lundstrom,&nbsp;Nancy I. Williams,&nbsp;Heather C. M. Allaway,&nbsp;Ana Carla Chierighini Salamunes,&nbsp;Mary Jane De Souza","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12261","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Female distance runners are at a high risk for chronic energy deficiency (ED). ED during predominantly high-volume and/or high-intensity training phases may compromise performance. The relationship between pre-season energy status and running performance in female runners across a season is unclear. To test if energy status as defined by resting metabolic rate ratio (RMR_ratio) is associated with running performance, female collegiate distance runners (18–25 yr; <i>n</i> = 38) were assessed across 10–12 wks. Energy status, body composition, and 5 km time trial (measure of performance) were assessed pre- and post-competitive season. Runners were categorized at baseline based on pre-season measured-to-Cunningham₁₉₉₁-predicted RMR_ratio: metabolically suppressed (SUP: RMR_ratio &lt; 0.92, <i>n</i> = 12) and energy replete (NSUP: RMR_ratio ≥ 0.92, <i>n</i> = 26). Repeated measures ANOVA tested effects of pre-season RMR_ratio groups, time, and group*time on performance. Linear regression analysis tested whether factors (body composition or total triiodothyronine, TT₃) predicted performance across the season. Twenty-one runners (19.6 ± 0.2 yr, 20.2 ± 0.4 kg/m²) completed pre- and post-season performance runs. Groups had similar body mass, body mass index, percent body fat, and lean body mass. ANOVA revealed a significant group effect of RMR_ratio on running performance, but no effect of time or group*time. SUP had slower 5 km time trial performance compared to NSUP (22.4 vs. 20.4 min, <i>p</i> = 0.04). Controlling for post-season VO₂max, pre-season TT₃ predicted post-season 5 km times (<i>R</i>² = 0.614, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Pre-season energy deficient female runners exhibited poorer running performance during a collegiate competitive season compared to pre-season energy replete runners. Early detection of metabolic compensation in runners may be necessary for optimal performance across a competitive season.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12261","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143248460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"No Effect of Acute or Chronic New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Cycling Performance or Physiological Responses in Trained Cyclists","authors":"Lillian C. Morton,&nbsp;Carl D. Paton,&nbsp;Ryan Aberkane,&nbsp;Andrea J. Braakhuis","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12267","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Previous research examining the ergogenic benefits of blackcurrant supplementation (BC) on exercise performance is contradictory. The BC supplementation period in many studies has typically been chronic (&gt; 6-days), with a final dose taken hours before testing. Whether any observed performance benefits are from the acute dose or chronic supplementation is unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects on cycling performance of a single-acute dose and 7-day supplementation with BC extract. This study was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial. Sixteen cyclists (mean ± SD: age 37 ± 11 years; height 175.8 ± 7.6 cm; body mass 73.2 ± 12.5 kg; V̇O_2peak 3.8 ± 0.7 L·min⁻¹) completed a total of six experimental sessions (2 × 3 treatment blocks). Each treatment block consisted of a no-supplement baseline trial, a single dose (acute) and a 7-day (chronic) supplementation trial. During each trial, subjects completed a maximal incremental test and 4 km time trial, separated by 15 min of recovery. Respiratory data, heart rate, muscle oxygenation and performance power were measured continuously in each trial, and differences between treatments were determined using RM-ANOVA and effect size analysis. There was no significant difference (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05) in cycling performance between experimental and placebo treatments following acute or chronic supplementation periods. There were no significant effects on measured physiological and metabolic parameters, and any observed differences in performance or physiology were trivial to small. Blackcurrant supplementation delivered either acutely or over a period of 7 days had no significant effect on cycling performance or physiology.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Trial Registration</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12622001277730</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12267","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143248445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Biological Age With Conventional Ultrasound Imaging as an Alternative to X-Ray—A Pilot Study in Youth Soccer","authors":"Chantal Widmer,&nbsp;Jasmin D. Busch,&nbsp;Dennis-Peter Born,&nbsp;Michael Romann","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12264","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aim of the study was to evaluate conventional ultrasound (US) as a radiation-free alternative to X-ray for determining biological age (BA; indicated by skeletal age). BA, was determined in 24 healthy, male, elite youth soccer goalkeepers around peak height velocity (11–16 years of age) using both X-ray and conventional US scans of the left hand. X-ray scans were evaluated using the Tanner–Whitehouse 2 method. Conventional US scans served to determine BA via ossification ratios of 13 hand and wrist bones. The new conventional US method showed very strong correlation with X-ray <i>r</i> = 0.90 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). However, the agreement for the difference in BA and CA, which accounts for age-related variance, was classified poor (ICC = 0.48, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, linear regression analysis and the Bland–Altman plot suggested the presence of a systematic and proportional overestimation of BA in younger players and an underestimation of BA in older players. Furthermore, Cohen's kappa showed a moderate agreement between players' classification into maturity groups for the two assessment methods. In conclusion, our study has shown that using US-derived ossification ratios did not deliver valid results compared to X-ray when determining BA in youth soccer goalkeepers.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12264","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143248444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Order of Concurrent Training Affects Acute Immunological Stress Responses and Measures of Muscular Fitness in Female Youth Judo Athletes","authors":"Adrian Markov,&nbsp;Jens Bussweiler,&nbsp;Philipp Baumert,&nbsp;Norman Helm,&nbsp;Michael Rex,&nbsp;Sebastian Behm,&nbsp;Tom Krüger,&nbsp;Helmi Chaabene","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12262","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.12262","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to examine the acute effects of concurrent muscle strength and sport-specific endurance exercise order on immunological stress responses, metabolic response, muscular-fitness, and rating-of-perceived-exertion (RPE) in highly trained youth female judo athletes. Thirteen female participants randomly performed two concurrent training (CT) sessions; strength-endurance and endurance-strength. Immune response, metabolic response, muscular fitness (i.e., countermovement jump-derived force and power [CMJ-force and CMJ-power]), and RPE were measured at different time points (i.e., PRE, MID, POST, POST6h, and POST22h). There were significant time × order interactions for lymphocytes (<i>p</i> = 0.006, ES = 1.31), granulocyte–lymphocyte ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.002, ES = 1.56), and systemic inflammation index (<i>p</i> = 0.029, ES = 1.11), blood glucose and lactate (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, ES = 2.09 and <i>p</i> = 0.0018, ES = 1.51, respectively), CMJ-force (<i>p</i> = 0.033, ES = 1.26), and CMJ-power (<i>p</i> = 0.007, ES = 1.40) as well as RPE (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, ES = 2.05). CT-induced acute (i.e., POST) but not delayed (i.e., POST6h and POST22h) order-dependent immune cell count alterations in highly trained youth female judo athletes. All markers of the immune system went back to baseline values at POST22h. Metabolic responses were slightly higher following the endurance exercise (irrespective of the applied exercise order). CMJ-measures and RPE fluctuated during both CT sessions but returned to baseline 6 h post-exercise.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11784164/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143070459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Audit of Sport Nutrition Services Within Male and Female International Rugby Union: Implications for Research and Practice","authors":"Lara Wilson,&nbsp;Ben Jones,&nbsp;Susan H. Backhouse,&nbsp;Andy Boyd,&nbsp;Nessan Costello","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12260","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.12260","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To critically evaluate sport nutrition services available to male and female international rugby unions. Fifteen participants, representing 16 international rugby unions, including nine female and seven male teams (one participant worked with both a female and male union), responded to an online survey. Twelve of the unions recruited were ranked in the top 10 globally by World Rugby. Twelve unions employed accredited nutrition practitioners with significant experience (&gt; 5 years: <i>n</i> = 5; &gt; 10 years: <i>n</i> = 4) and advanced qualifications (master's degrees: <i>n</i> = 8; doctorates: <i>n</i> = 2). Three unions did not employ a qualified nutrition practitioner (female: <i>n</i> = 2; male: <i>n</i> = 1). Full-time employment was more common among nutrition practitioners serving male (<i>n</i> = 4/5) versus female (<i>n</i> = 3/6) unions. Practitioners served male unions for more hours per week (42 ± 28) than female unions (24 ± 20). Practitioners were involved in sport science meetings (<i>n</i> = 14/15), anti-doping education, menu design, strategy development (<i>n</i> = 13/15), body composition assessments, individual consultations (<i>n</i> = 12/15), focusing on fuelling, recovery and injury rehabilitation (<i>n</i> = 14/15). Participants were “<i>moderately confident</i>” (<i>n</i> = 8/15) in using behaviour change techniques. Most participants agreed on the lack of female-specific nutrition guidance (<i>n</i> = 14/15), relying on guidance for male players due to limited evidence (<i>n</i> = 7/9). This study provides the first critical reflection of sport nutrition service delivery within international rugby. The findings highlight gender disparities for female players, with reduced applied support and a lack of female-specific guidelines. Recommendations include enhancing practitioner training in behaviour change, hiring qualified nutritionists, deemphasising body composition assessment, and conducting more research to improve nutrition services, especially for women.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781356/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143070448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}