Browsing by Author "Smits-Engelsman, B C M"

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    Coaches’ perceptions on qualities defining good adolescent rugby players and are important for player recruitment in talent identification programs: the SCRuM project
    (2019-03-13) Chiwaridzo, M; Munambah, N; Oorschot, S; Magume, D; Dambi, J M; Ferguson, G; Smits-Engelsman, B C M
    Objective Competitive rugby is increasingly becoming popular among adolescent players even in countries hardly known for rugby such as Zimbabwe. Given the increased participation rates, burgeoning talent identification (TID) programs and the reportedly high injury-risk associated with competitive youth rugby, the minimal qualities or skills needed for effective performance by all young players need further clarification. Therefore, this qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions of high-school based rugby coaches on the key qualities or skills defining good adolescent rugby players and should be considered for player recruitment in TID programs. Currently, there is no consensus in literature from the coaches’ perspective on these qualities. Results The final sample had 22 coaches (median age = 45.5 years) with years of coaching high-school rugby ranging from 6 to 17 years. Using the conventional approach to inductive content analysis four broad themes emerged suggesting the multifaceted nature of the requirements imperative for effective and optimal rugby performance among adolescent rugby players as perceived by the coaches. Themes identified included: physiological characteristics, anthropometric attributes, psychological qualities and game-specific skills. Possibly, training approaches or design of rugby-specific test-batteries should consider all these important qualities and be multi-dimensional in composition.
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    High-school adolescents’ motivation to rugby participation and selection criteria for inclusion in school rugby teams: coaches’ perspective (the SCRuM project)
    (BioMed Central, 2019-02-26) Chiwaridzo, M; Ferguson, G; Smits-Engelsman, B C M
    Objective: Despite increasing rugby popularity among schoolboys’ worldwide, specific factors influencing their motivation to participate in rugby remain unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted in two parts with a dual purpose of exploring perceptions of rugby coaches on (i) factors motivating schoolboys to engage in competitive rugby, and (ii) criteria for selecting schoolboy rugby players for possible inclusion in school rugby teams. Results A qualitative study targeting Zimbabwean high school-based rugby coaches purposively-recruited during the 2017 Dairiboard Zimbabwe Rugby School Festival was conducted. Using the conventional approach to content analysis, the 22 recruited male coaches (median age = 45.5 years) felt that playing rugby is a choice largely influenced by either intrinsic or extrinsic motives for schoolboys. Additionally, coaches considered players’ characteristics (performance during training, attitude, physical qualities and skills) and match-related factors when selecting schoolboys for possible inclusion in school rugby teams. To effectively promote competitive rugby participation among schoolboys and promote sustainable and effective talent identification programmes in Zimbabwe, more recognition should be paid to factors motivating schoolboys to participate in rugby and also on the factors coaches consider when assembling school rugby teams which indirectly informs on what coaches think should be trained among schoolboy rugby players.
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    The relationship between kinaesthesia, motor performance, physical fitness and joint mobility in children with and without joint hypermobility in Nigeria
    (2022) Anieto, Ebuka Miracle; Naidoo, Niri; Smits-Engelsman, B C M
    Background: Some children with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) develop symptoms at some point, which could negatively affect their overall health status. When GJH presents with symptoms, it is described as benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS). Some of the symptoms may include pain, soft tissue injuries, and early onset osteoarthritis. The factors that may predict the development of symptoms in people with GJH have not been established. It is important to explore and identify the factors that modulate the clinical outcomes of children with joint hypermobility, and the factors that predispose some children to developing BJHS). Exploring these factors will help in establishing indicators to observe in longitudinal studies to identify causality, and in developing interventions that will be specifically targeted at influencing those modulators. Aims: to determine the relationship between kinaesthesia, motor performance, fitness and joint mobility in children, and to also determine if kinaesthesia, motor performance, fitness are different in children diagnosed with GJH compared to those who have normal mobility. Methods: a cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted involving children from two primary schools in South-Eastern part of Nigeria. The Beighton criteria were used for the classification of GJH, while using a cut-off of ≥ 6 out of the 9-maximum score. The children were allocated into two groups: children with GJH, and children with normal mobility (NM). Motor performance, fitness and kinaesthesia were measured in all the children. Motor performance and fitness were measured using the performance and fitness battery (PERF-FIT), while kinaesthesia was measured using wedges. Partial correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between the outcomes, while controlling for age and BMI. The non-parametric ANCOVA test (Quade's test) was used to evaluate the differences in the outcomes (motor performance, fitness, and kinaesthesia) between children with GJH and children with NM, while also controlling for age and BMI. Results: A total of 91 children (51.6% girls, and 48.4% boys) participated in the study. The mean age of the children was 8.20 ± 1.98. GJH was identified in a total of 35 (38.46%) children, while 56 (61.54%) children had normal mobility. GJH was more frequent in females (60.0%) than in males (40.0%). There was no statistically significant correlation between joint mobility and kinaesthesia. There was also no statistically significant correlation between joint mobility and motor performance items, as well as the fitness items. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between kinaesthesia and some motor performance items including ball bounce, ball throw and dynamic balance, as well as a significant negative correlation between kinaesthesia and one fitness item- ladder run. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between age and kinaesthesia (correct wedges discrimination). The study also showed that motor performance items, kinaesthesia, and most fitness items, did not differ significantly between children with GJH and children with NM. Conclusion: Joint mobility may not have a significant influence on motor performance and fitness in children that are still at their early stage of growth. Kinaesthesia may be an important factor to consider in children, as it had significant correlations with some motor performance and a fitness item. Furthermore, kinaesthesia is better when the children are older.