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Fatigue in team sports has been widely researched, with a number of systematic reviews summarising the acute (i.e., within 48-hours) response in outdoor sports. However, the fatigue response to indoor court-based sports is likely to differ to outdoor sports due to smaller playing fields, harder surfaces, and greater match frequencies, thus should be considered separately to outdoor sports. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review on acute fatigue in indoor court-based team-sport, identify methods and markers used to measure acute fatigue, and describe acute fatigue responses. A systematic search of the electronic databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE and CINHAL) was conducted from earliest record to June 2023. Included studies investigated either a physical, technical, perceptual, or physiological response taken before and after training, match, or tournament play. One-hundred and eight studies were included, measuring 142 markers of fatigue. Large variability in methods, fatigue markers and timeline of measurements were present. Cortisol (n =  43), creatine kinase (n =  28), countermovement jump (n =  26) and testosterone (n =  23) were the most frequently examined fatigue markers. Creatine kinase displayed the most consistent trend, increasing 10–204% at 24-hours across sports. There is large variability across studies in the methods and markers used to determine acute fatigue responses in indoor court-based team sports. Future researchers should focus on markers that display high reliability and transfer to practice. The robustness of studies may be increased by ensuring appropriate methods and timescale of fatigue marker measurement are used. Further research is required to determine which combination of markers best describes a fatigue response.

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Background/objectivesThe tackle has the highest risk and causes the most concussions in rugby union. As such, law variation prevention strategies aiming to reduce head contact have been introduced. This study investigated whether a law variation lowering the maximum legal height of the tackle, from the shoulder to the base of the sternum, was an effective approach to change players’ tackling behaviour and reduce head contact events in Scottish men’s community rugby.MethodsThis retrospective video analysis study compared game metrics and tackle characteristics from the pre (2022/2023) to lowered tackle height (LTH) season (2023/2024). Sixty games were analysed (30 each season), variables coded for the tackle event included tackle type, body position, contact point and head contact.ResultsThe rate of bent at waist tackling increased during the LTH season (rate ratio (RR)=1.22 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.27)), which resulted in tacklers making initial contact with the ball carriers’ lower torso or arms more often (RR=1.08 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.14)). While overall tackler head contact to the ball carrier (any region) increased (RR=1.12 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.18)), head-to-head contacts with the ball carrier decreased (RR=0.55 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.92)) and head to upper leg contacts increased (RR=1.39 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.56)).ConclusionsLowering the maximum legal height of the tackle in men’s community rugby led to increased rates of bent at waist tackling, resulting in more tackles making initial contact with the ball carrier’s lower torso and legs. This change in behaviour likely reduced the rate of contact between tackler and ball carrier heads.

ObjectivesThe tackle carries the highest risk of concussion in women’s rugby union. To reduce concussion risk, a lowered maximum tackle height (LTH) law, lowering the maximum legal tackle height from the shoulder to below the base of the sternum, was implemented across Scottish community rugby. This study aimed to assess the effect of the LTH on player head-contact events, proximity (location nearest the head (~30 cm)) and concussion incidence in Scottish women’s community rugby.MethodsA retrospective video analysis study, alongside prospective injury data collection, compared differences in game metrics, tackle characteristics and time-loss injury (including concussion) between the pre-LTH (2022/2023) and LTH (2023/2024) seasons.ResultsHead-to-head and head-to-shoulder proximity to the opponent for the tackler (head: rate ratio (RR):0.71 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.82), shoulder: RR:0.73 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.83)), and ball-carrier (head: RR:0.67 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.77), shoulder: RR:0.68 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.79)) were lower in the LTH season. Head contact to the opponent’s shoulder decreased for the tackler (RR: 0.65 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.91)) and ball-carrier (RR: 0.52 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.78)). Tackler body position was lower (upright: RR:0.79 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.83), bent at waist: RR:1.34 (95% CI 1.25 to 1.42)), reducing red-zone (above the base of the sternum) contacts (RR:0.81 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.85)). Although non-significant, tackler concussion rates dropped (IR: 2.83 to 0.52/1000 player match hours; RR: 0.18 (95% CI 0.004 to 1.52)), while ball-carrier concussion rates increased (IR: 1.89 to 4.70/1000 player match hours; RR: 2.49 (95%CI 0.69 to 11.06)).ConclusionLowering the maximum tackle height to below the base of the sternum showed a reduction in red-zone contacts, head-to-head proximity and head-to-shoulder contact for the tackler and ball-carrier. There were no significant differences in concussion rates in the present study, and the limitations surrounding the small sample of injuries highlight the need for further research on the effect of injury prevention initiatives in women’s rugby.

Background In tackle-collision sports, the tackle has the highest incidence, severity, and burden of injury. Head injuries and concussions during the tackle are a major concern within tackle-collision sports. To reduce concussion and head impact risk, evaluating optimal tackle techniques to inform tackle-related prevention strategies has been recommended. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic scoping review of player-level tackle training intervention studies in all tackle-collision sports. Methods The Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage scoping review process and Levac et al.’s framework were used, along with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. The main inclusion criteria were that the study included an intervention aimed at improving a player’s tackle abilities, and the intervention had to be delivered/implemented at the player-level in a training setting. Results Thirteen studies were included in this review, seven studies in American Football (54%), followed by a combined cohort of rugby union and rugby league players (three studies; 23%), rugby union (two studies; 15%), and one study reported on a rugby league cohort (8%). Studies focused primarily on the tackler, with the intervention incorporating a form of instruction or feedback, delivered through video or an expert coach. Other interventions included an 8-week strength and power training programme, designing practice sessions based on baseline data, and helmetless training in American Football. All interventions demonstrated a favourable change in the outcome measured—which included tackler and ball-carrier kinematics based on motion capture video, tackler proficiency scoring, tackling task analysis, head impact frequencies by xPatch head-impact sensor technology, head impact kinematics using head-impact sensors (helmet or skin patches) and football tackle kinematics with motion capture systems or video. Conclusion This review shows that a range of studies have been undertaken focusing on player-level training interventions. The quality of studies were rated as ‘good’, and all studies showed improvements in outcome measures. Coaches and policy makers should ensure tackle technique is profiled alongside other player characteristics, and an evidence-based approach to improving player tackling is adopted, improving both performance and reducing injury risk. Key Points Only 13 studies tested or implemented interventions at the player level in tackle-collision sports. The focus of the studies was primarily on the tackler, with the interventions incorporating a form of instruction or feedback, which was delivered through video or an expert coach. Other interventions included an 8-week strength and power training programme, designing practice sessions based on baseline data, and helmetless training in American Football. All interventions demonstrated a favourable change in the outcome measure and provide coaches and policymakers with tackle training insights. Registration The systematic scoping review was prospectively registered with OSF (registration number: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/V3KZC ).