Effects of manipulating specific individual constraints on performance outcomes, emotions, and movement phase durations in Rugby Union place kicking

Pocock, C., Bezodis, N. E., Davids, K. and North, J. S. (2021) Effects of manipulating specific individual constraints on performance outcomes, emotions, and movement phase durations in Rugby Union place kicking. Human Movement Science, 79 (102848). pp. 1-12. ISSN 0167-9457

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Manipulating Individual Constraints in Place Kicking - Accepted in HMS 090721.docx - Accepted Version
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Abstract

Place kicks present valuable opportunities to score points in Rugby Union, contributing almost half of all points scored at international level. From an ecological dynamics perspective, place kickers adapt to interacting task, environmental, and individual constraints in performance environments. The aim of this study was to analyse effects of specific manipulations of individual constraints (fatigue; expectation for success) on place kicking performance, movement phase durations, heart rate and self-reported emotions. Under representative task and environmental constraints on an outdoor training pitch, 12 experienced, male place kickers completed four testing sessions under every combination of manipulated high/low expectation for success and manipulated levels of high/low acute fatigue. Within each session of 12 place kicks, performance outcomes from three kicking locations of varying difficulty were recorded. ANOVA revealed a two-way interaction between fatigue and expectation manipulations on mean success percentage (p < 0.05), with higher success under low fatigue + low expectation (M ± SD = 58 ± 13%) and high fatigue + high expectation (M ± SD = 56 ± 14%), compared with separate manipulations of high expectation (M ± SD = 49 ± 14%) or high fatigue (M ± SD = 51 ± 14%). There were no significant effects on any movement phase durations. Manipulating expectation significantly heightened mean heart rate (p < 0.05) and influenced emotions reported by place kickers, including higher anger scores when there was high expectation for success. Coaches are encouraged to integrate place kicking into representative game scenarios in practice environments to faithfully represent key performance constraints (e.g. fatigue; expectation for success) in preparing kickers for competitive situations.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: Place kick, Fatigue, Ecological dynamics, Expectation, Constraints manipulations, Practice environments
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
Q Science > QP Physiology
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Sports Biomechanics and Sports Therapy
Academic Areas > Institute of Sport
Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Research Theme > Enhancing Sport Performance
Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER)
Depositing User: Chris Pocock
Date Deposited: 05 Aug 2021 10:28
Last Modified: 09 Jul 2024 14:29
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/5863

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