832 MEP125 – Contact load practices and perceptions in elite English rugby league: an evaluation to inform contact load guidelines

AbstractBackground Rugby league players are exposed to contact in training and matches, commonly referred to as contact load. Current contact practices are unknown in English rugby league. Objective Describe the current contact load practices and perceptions within men's and women's rugby league to allow the Rugby Football League (RFL) to develop contact load guidance. Design Cross sectional survey. Setting Elite men's and women's rugby league. Participants 551 participants (n=450 players, n=46 coaching staff, n=32 performance staff, n=23 medical staff). Assessment of Risk Factors A 27-item online survey, assessing current contact load practices and perceptions within four categories: "current contact load practices" (n=12 items), "perceptions of required contact load" (n=6 items), "monitoring of contact load" (n=3 items), and "relationship between contact load and recovery" (n=6 items). Main Outcome Measurements Percentage of responses per group (players, coaching, performance, medical staff, and staff overall average). Results In men's Super League, pre-season full-contact and controlled-contact training was typically undertaken for 15–30 mins each, and wrestle training for 15–45 mins per week. In-season all three training modalities were typically undertaken for 15–30 mins per week. In women's Super League all training modalities were undertaken for <30 minutes per week during pre-season and in-season periods. Players and staff from men's and women's Super League perceived 15–30 minutes of full-contact training per week was enough to prepare players for match-play, but a higher duration may be required to prepare for the technical contact demands of rugby league. Conclusions Men's and women's currently undertake more contact training during pre-season than in-season, which is primarily planned by coaches and is deemed adequate by players and staff to prepare players for the demands of rugby league. This study provides data to inform the RFL contact load guidance, improving player welfare, whilst not impacting performance.