Paolo Riccardo Brustio

To comprehend the complexity of rugby union performance, it is crucial to correlate technical and tactical, and kinematic elements specifically for playing roles. Hence, this study investigated the relationship between game-related metrics and running activities in sub-elite senior males. Technical and tactical performance and running activity of 36 sub-elite senior players (age mean = 25 years; total performances = 200) were assessed in relation to 17 key performance indicators (KPIs). A series of general linear mixed models were performed to evaluate the relationship between KPIs according to roles (backs, forwards and scrum halves), including subjects and games as random effect. The main finding was that the tactical context relates distinctly running activities, and this effect varies between backs and forwards. Tackling mainly involves impacts and deceleration, whereas carrying the ball is associated with impacts and accelerations. Furthermore, the percentage of missed tackles is related to higher occurrences of acceleration events. These findings offer a more profound understanding of the physiological requirements in sub-elite rugby performance, especially given the limited evidence on the interaction between technical and tactical performance and running activities in sub-elite rugby union games. As a result, coaches and physical practitioners should design and execute diverse training sessions that consider both the tactical context and the players’ positions.

Soccer organizations generally adopt deterministic models within their talent pathways. In this framework, early ability and results are emphasized, leading to selection biases, such as birth advantages (i.e., relative age effects and birthplace effects), which research has shown affect both early developmental experiences and continued sporting involvement. Accordingly, this study aimed to (a) provide further test of birth advantages in Italian youth soccer by exploring the birth quarter (BQ) and birthplace (BP) distribution of 1050 male Italian players born between 1999 and 2001 who competed in the national U17 championship throughout the 2015–16 season and (b) investigate how birth advantages influenced selected players’ future career status. Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests revealed early born players, and players born in North Italy were overrepresented at the youth level (p-values < 0.0001). Successive prospective analysis revealed only 18% of players developed into professional-level soccer players. Chi-square tests of independence indicated that players’ BP was associated with their future career status (p < 0.0001), whereas their BQ was not (p = 0.459). Odds ratios showed players born in North Italy were five times more likely to complete the youth-to-senior transition than those born in South Italy. These findings highlighted environmental factors influence Italian players’ early developmental experiences and their future career status.

We aimed to quantify the prevalence of track and field sprinters competing at a world-class level in more than one discipline, and we describe the career characteristics of single- and double-discipline athletes in terms of peak performance and the age of peak performance. The career performance of athletes ranked in the top 200 positions of the World Athletics database in the 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m were analyzed, i.e., 5514 career profiles (49.9% female). Using binomial proportion, we calculated how many competed in only one or more than one discipline. We also compared the peak performance and the age of peak performance of athletes who competed in one vs. more than one discipline. Independent of gender, about 50% of the athletes competing in the 100 m and 200 m also competed in the other discipline (i.e., 200 m and 100 m, respectively). Differently, only 20% of the athletes competing in the 400 m also competed in the 200 m. Sprinters competing in the 100–200 m and 200–400 m couples showed better peak performance than the sprinters competing in only one discipline. Many world-class sprinters compete in two disciplines, and the 100–200 m was the most prevalent couple. Our results also suggest that sprinters who compete in two disciplines may be advantaged compared to sprinters who compete in only one event.