Brosnan Ross J, Visentin Denis, Watson Greig, Schmidt Matthew
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
PLoS One. 2025 May 7;20(5):e0322407. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322407. eCollection 2025.
Women's rugby sevens is a rapidly growing sport that imposes unique match-play movement demands on participants. This research investigated the effect of contextual factors on the match-play movement demands of international and domestic women's rugby sevens players.
An observational, longitudinal study design was conducted to characterise Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) match-play movement demands in international (n = 23) and domestic (n = 42) players across two seasons and nine series of an elite domestic women's dual-level rugby sevens tournament. In total, across the 65 players, 1461 matches were analysed. Match-play movement demands were assessed through distance, speed, and acceleration metrics using 10 and 15 Hz (5 Hz interpolated to 15 Hz) GNSS devices. Contextual factors were grouped into four themes: Player, Match, Tournament, and Environment. Data was analysed using univariate and multivariate mixed-effects regression.
Multi-variate regression identified that higher intensity match-play movement demands were associated with day 1, half 1, winning and/or drawing the match, closer score lines, playing in a top-5 ranked team, playing against opponents closer in the standings, starting the match, playing as a back or speed edge, being an international player, playing in warmer climates, and playing later in the day.
This study highlights how contextual factors can affect match-play movement demands in women's rugby sevens. These findings can help coaches tailor training, optimise tactical decisions, and manage player workloads more effectively.
女子七人制橄榄球是一项发展迅速的运动，对参与者的比赛动作有独特要求。本研究调查了情境因素对国际和国内女子七人制橄榄球运动员比赛动作要求的影响。
采用观察性纵向研究设计，以描述全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）在两个赛季和国内精英女子双级别七人制橄榄球锦标赛的九个系列赛中，国际球员（n = 23）和国内球员（n = 42）的比赛动作要求。总共对65名球员的1461场比赛进行了分析。使用10赫兹和15赫兹（5赫兹插值到15赫兹）的GNSS设备，通过距离、速度和加速度指标评估比赛动作要求。情境因素分为四个主题：球员、比赛、赛事和环境。数据采用单变量和多变量混合效应回归分析。
多变量回归分析表明，比赛动作要求强度较高与比赛第一天、上半场、比赛获胜和/或平局、比分接近、在排名前五的球队中比赛、对阵排名相近的对手、比赛首发、作为后卫或速度型球员、国际球员、在温暖气候下比赛以及在当天晚些时候比赛有关。
本研究强调了情境因素如何影响女子七人制橄榄球的比赛动作要求。这些发现有助于教练更有效地调整训练、优化战术决策和管理球员工作量。
