1st Edition
The Young Rugby Player Science and Application
The Young Rugby Player: Science and Application provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the recent research behind the preparation, development and performance of the young rugby player. Each chapter concludes with key take-home messages and practical applications demonstrating how practitioners can provide evidence-informed delivery with the young rugby athlete. The book highlights how research and science can inform practice including coaching, sport science, player development and performance with the young rugby player. Each author is a world leader within their respective discipline including academics and practitioners who research and practice across youth rugby.
The book includes chapters on:
• Introducing the young rugby player, including topics related to growth and maturation, talent identification and development and understanding the demands of youth rugby.
• Understanding and developing the young rugby player, including topics related to physical, psycho-social, technical and tactical development, alongside training practices and fatigue and recovery.
• Other hot topics including nutrition, injury, concussion and injury prevention and the female young rugby player.
This text is vital reading for all coaches, sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and all academics with an interest in the science and practical application of working with the young rugby player.
1 Youth Rugby: Setting the Scene
Kevin Till, Martin MacTaggart and Ben Jones
2 Long-Term Athletic Development of the Young Rugby Player
Kevin Till, Rhodri S. Lloyd and Joey C. Eisenmann
3 Developmentally Appropriate Coaching Practice for Children Playing Rugby
David Morley and Donna O’Connor
4 Davids and Goliaths: Kinanthropometry and Grouping Strategies in Youth Rugby
John Sampson, Job Fransen, Ric Lovell and Kevin Till
5 Talent Identification in Male Youth Rugby
Adam L. Kelly, Alexander B. T. McAuley, Francesco Dimundo and Kevin Till
6 The Demands of Youth Rugby Match-Play
Sarah Whitehead, Dan Weaving, Rich Johnston, Dale B. Read, Ryan White and Ben Jones
7 Profiling Physical Qualities in Youth Rugby: The ProPQ Tool
Jonathon Weakley, Cameron Owen, Ben Jones and Kevin Till
8 Strength and Conditioning Training for Physical Development
Jonathon Weakley, Josh Darrall- Jones and Nicholas Gill
9 The Psychosocial Development of Youth Rugby Players
Ross A. Shand, Lea-Cathrin Dohme and Stephen D. Mellalieu
10 Technical and Tactical Development in Youth Rugby
Michael Ashford and Jamie Taylor
11 Improving Young Rugby Player’s Tackle Ability
Sharief Hendricks, Gregory Tierney and Steven den Hollander
12 Training Practices in Youth Rugby Players
Padraic Phibbs, Timothy Hartwig and Sarah Whitehead
13 Monitoring Fatigue and Recovery in Youth Rugby
Carlos Ramírez-López, Cédric Leduc, Mathieu Lacome and Ben Jones
14 Nutrition for the Young Rugby Player
Marcus Hannon, Sarah Chantler and Nessan Costello
15 Injury Risk and Reduction Strategies in Young Rugby Players
Michael Hislop and Keith Stokes
16 The Young Female Rugby Player
Sean Scantlebury and Omar Heyward
17 Planning Your Coaching for Young Rugby Players
Michael Ashford and Jamie Taylor
Biography
Kevin Till, PhD, is a Professor of Athletic Development in the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University, UK.
Jonathon Weakley, PhD, is a Lecturer of Strength and Conditioning and Human Physiology at Australian Catholic University, Australia. He is also an Associate Research Fellow at Leeds Beckett University, UK.
Sarah Whitehead, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning within the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University, UK.
Ben Jones, PhD, is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Physiology within the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and the University of New England, Australia.
