The effect of ball-carrying technique and experience on sprinting in rugby union

There are several ways of carrying the ball in rugby union, which could influence the speed at which a player can run. We assessed 52 rugby players (34 males, 18 females) during a maximum sprint over 30 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands. Timing gates were used to measure time over the initial 10 m and the last 20 m. It has previously been reported (Grant et al., 2003) that running with the ball produces a slower sprinting speed than running without the ball. We hypothesized that the decrease in speed caused by carrying the ball would become less marked with the experience of the player. The male and female players were each divided into two groups: a "beginner" group that consisted of players in their first or second season and an "experienced" group that was composed of players who had played for more than two seasons. A 2 x 3 mixed-model analysis of variance was used to identify differences (P < 0.01) between the beginner and experienced groups in the three sprinting conditions. The times for the males for the first 10 m sprints without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 1.87 +/- 0.08 s, 1.87 +/- 0.08 s, and 1.91 +/- 0.1 s for the beginners, and 1.87 +/- 0.1, 1.88 +/- 0.1 and 1.88 +/- 0.12 for the more experienced players respectively. The times for the females for the first 10 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 2.13 +/- 0.16 s, 2.19 +/- 0.17 s, and 2.20 +/- 0.16 s for the beginners, and 2.03 +/- 0.12 s, 2.03 +/- 0.09 s, and 2.04 +/- 0.1 s for the more experienced players respectively. For the last 20 m of the 30-m sprint, there were differences between the different sprint conditions (P < 0.001) but no differences that were attributable to experience (P = 0.297). The times for the males over the last 20 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 2.58 +/- 0.19 s, 2.61 +/- 0.12 s, and 2.65 +/- 0.12 s for the beginners, and 2.59 +/- 0.12, 2.62 +/- 0.23, and 2.65 +/- 0.18 s for the more experienced players respectively. The times for the females over the last 20 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 3.25 +/- 0.38 s, 3.35 +/- 0.42 s, and 3.40 +/- 0.46 s for the beginners, and 3.04 +/- 0.32 s, 3.06 +/- 0.22 s, and 3.13 +/- 0.27 s for the more experienced players respectively. No gender-specific differences were detected. The results of this study suggest that practising sprints while carrying a ball benefits the early phase of sprinting while carrying the ball.     

Is the Film 2012 a True Story？

人类历史发展至今,已经脱离了刀耕火种的原始生存状态,步入了一种前所未有的文明时期。人类利用日渐发达的聪明才智,制造出汽车、飞机等交通工具,并登上了月球,而且还在火星和深深的海洋中安排机器人进行勘测……然而,随着文明的进步,也出现了很多破坏环境的问题。既然历史的车轮无法让我们再回到从前简单的生活方式当中,就只有认识到人类曾经对环境犯下的错误,并在将来的日子里认真纠正,虽然任重道远。     

Happiness

半杯水．乐观的人说它半满．悲观的人说它半空。很多时候。生活就像半杯水。它是半满的还是半空的。全看你的心态。     

Success Is Being Able To Do Things That Make You Happy

经过层层搏杀步入政界的天之骄子、在商界白手起家的财富精英、在奥运会上争金夺银的运动健儿、在演艺界拥有粉丝无数的俊男靓女或者实力派艺人……他们用一种无人能敌的大气魄展示了成功的含义,并继续描绘着一个令我们普通大众望尘莫及的梦。到底怎样才算成功?我们也许有些迷茫,或许还会故作沧桑。不要垂头丧气,成功其实就在不远的前方。听听普通的过来人对于成功的看法吧,希望能给你的人生带来一种实用性的指导。     

Many Animals Are Extinct

"总有一天,北极将找不到雪,北极熊将会溺亡,因纽特人将集体移民……这绝不是危言耸听!"全球变暖是对人类生存环境的最大威胁,如果这一趋势得不到缓解,全球海水温度继续上升的迹象也就无法得到遏止。全球变暖不是简单的环境污染和生态灾难,它破坏的是整个地球的气候系统,会引发一系列连锁反应,所造成的后果是不可逆转的。     

What Will You See in the Future？

年纪一年年增长。Brad却越老越有精神。他跟夫人Wendy一起出游,呼朋唤友叙旧,还跟中国的学生们通信,日子过得有声有色。出乎他意料的是。在与中国学生的通信过程中,他获益匪浅。那就是,他发现了一个全新的世界,而那个世界充满着无限的可能……     

The Concept of Distance

世界很大,从地图上看,两个地方相隔千里、万里;世界又很小,科技的发达、交通的便捷使人们可以在一天内到达世界上任何地方。人们告别了“足不出户”的年代,开始走向世界。于是,世界越变越小,人们的距离也越来越近……