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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF LINE-OUT THROWING IN ELITE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY UNION |
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Mark G.L. Sayers  |
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School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Australia |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 553 - 558 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The rugby union line-out is a key aspect of game play and involves
players from both teams contesting for the ball after it has been thrown
in from the side line. Successful lines-out throws require the ball to be
delivered accurately to the hands of a jumping and/or lifted team mate (approximately
3-3.5 m off the ground) over distances of between 5- 18 m. Previous research
has suggested considerable inter and intra-individual differences in the
throwing techniques of international level players. Accordingly, this project
investigated the interrelationships between accuracy and the line-out throwing
characteristics of three elite international rugby players, and then analyzed
whether these changed for throws over increasing length. Three-dimensional
(3D) data were developed from video footage (50 Hz) of three elite international
subjects for 30 throws over three distances (6 m, 10 m, and 15 m). Results
showed notable differences between subjects in many variables at each of
the key throw phases. However, several variables such as the degree of trunk
flexion at the end of the backswing and at ball release, coupled with elbow
flexion angle at ball release remained constant as throw length increased.
All subjects exhibited high levels of consistency in movement patterns across
all throw lengths. Findings indicated that these high performance line-out
throwers shared several common characteristics that will provide useful
guides in the development of training programs. Key words: Biomechanics, movement analysis, rugby union, accuracy, throwing. |
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