Youth Rugby

Youth Rugby provides a summary of the latest and most up-to-date research evidence in relation to developing the youth rugby player. The book provides an overview of the latest scientific research for key topics related to the youth rugby player across the codes of rugby (union, league and 7’s; mainly league and union in youth players) whilst also summarising the quality of the evidence available and the limitations of this research and highlighting key future research directions. The book covers a range of fundamental scientific topics relating to paediatric exercise science, human physiology, youth athletic development and high-performance sport. Each author is an experienced researcher within their respective discipline related to the youth rugby player. The book includes chapters on: • Long-term athletic development, growthand maturation, talent identification and the physical demands of youth rugby training and match-play. • Physical characteristics and the current evidence behind training methods to promote desired physical qualities. • Fatigue and recovery, the tackle, psychosocial development, nutrition and injury prevalence and prevention. This text is essential reading for all scientists, students and applied researchers wanting to develop world-class, evidence-based programmes for their youth athletes.

1. Youth Rugby Kevin Till and Ben Jones 2. Long-Term Athletic Development: The Youth Rugby Player Rhodri S. Lloyd, Joey C. Eisenmann and Kevin Till 3. Kinanthropometry and Grouping Strategies in Youth Rugby John Sampson, Job Fransen, Ric Lovell and Kevin Till 4. Talent Identification in Male Youth Rugby: An Ecological Perspective Adam L. Kelly, Alexander B. T. McAuley, Francesco Dimundo and Kevin Till 5. The Demands of Youth Rugby Match-Play Sarah Whitehead, Dan Weaving, Rich Johnston and Dale B. Read 6. Training Practices of Youth Rugby Players Padraic Phibbs, Timothy Hartwig and Sarah Whitehead 7. Fatigue and Recovery in Youth Rugby Carlos Ramírez-López, Cedric Leduc, Mathieu Lacome and Ben Jones 8. Measuring and Analysing Physical Qualities in Youth Rugby Jonathon Weakley, Cameron Owen and John Sampson 9. Physical Qualities in Youth Rugby Cameron Owen, Sam McCormack, Jonathon Weakley, Ben Jones and Kevin Till 10. Strength and Conditioning Interventions in Youth Rugby Players Jonathon Weakley, Josh Darrall-Jones, Daniel T. McMaster and Nicholas Gill 11. The Tackle in Youth Rugby Sharief Hendricks, Steven Den Hollander and Gregory Tierney 12. The Psychosocial Development of the Youth Rugby Player Ross A. Shand, Lea-Cathrin Dohme and Stephen D. Mellalieu 13. Nutrition for Youth Rugby Nessan Costelo, Sarah Chantler and Marcus Hannon 14. Injury Risk and Prevention in Youth Rugby Jonathon Weakley and Kevin Till

Kevin Till is a Professor of Athletic Development within 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 is a Professor in Sport and Exercise Physiology within the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University, UK. Ben is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and University of New England, Australia.