The Effects of a Field-Based Priming Session on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Sevens Players
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School of Health Sciences, Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a field-based priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby sevens athletes. Methods: Thirteen highly trained female rugby sevens players (age: 20.7 [2.0] y; height: 169.3 [4.8] cm; weight: 68.8 [7.9] kg) completed either a 20-minute field-based priming session or a control condition. Perceptual, physiological, and performance variables were collected at baseline (PRE) and 5 (POST5), 30 (POST30), and 120 minutes (POST120) postintervention. Data were analyzed using Bayesian mixed effects models. Results: The priming protocol had a larger increase in mental readiness (maximum a posteriori [MAP] = 20, 95% high-density intervals [HDI] = −4 to 42, probability of direction [PD]% = 95, % in region of practical equivalence [ROPE] = 9.7), physical readiness (MAP = 20.1, 95% HDI = −4.6 to 42.1, PD% = 93, % in ROPE = 10.6), and testosterone (MAP = 14.9, 95% HDI = 0.5 to 27.7, PD% = 98, % in ROPE = 5.6) than the control POST30. Cognitive performance decreased POST120 in the priming condition for congruent (MAP = 0.02, 95% HDI = −0.06 to 0.00, PD% = 95, % in ROPE = 6.4) and incongruent tasks (MAP = 0.00, 95% HDI = −0.07 to 0.00, PD% = 98, % in ROPE = 3.2) when compared with the control. Conclusions: Perceptual and physiological markers improved POST30 in the priming condition. Findings indicate that perceptual and physiological responses to priming were not coupled with performance improvements. Priming was not accompanied by perceptual, physiological, or performance improvements at POST120.
McKune https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5479-1544
Pumpa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3757-3972
Mara https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2091-2608
Engel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3994-1994
Kilduff https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9449-2293
Ball https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5819-3173
Mason (billy.mason@canberra.edu.au) is corresponding author, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4070-3419
Supplementary Materials
- Supplementary Figure S1 (pdf 311 KB)
- Supplementary Figure S2 (pdf 313 KB)
- Supplementary Figure S3 (pdf 296 KB)
- Supplementary Figure S4 (pdf 488 KB)
- Supplementary Figure S5 (pdf 283 KB)
- Supplementary Figure S6 (pdf 425 KB)
- Supplementary Figure S7 (pdf 3 MB)
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