Implementing the SportSmart programme in Premiership Rugby Academies to help monitor, manage, and reduce the risk of injury for young people taking part in Rugby Union.
What is the context?
The early talent development journey of young people engaging in Rugby Union is one that can be precarious. This journey often involves a significant change in the frequency, duration and intensity of training and competition loads, alongside a required increased rate of change in physical, psychological, emotional, technical, and tactical abilities. These changes clearly present an opportunity for positive development, but also increase the risk of injury. Current evidence shows that both ‘increasing age’ and ‘higher levels of play’ can increase the risk of injury in young male Rugby Union players.
Sustaining an injury can destabilise the talent development trajectory of a young person taking part in Rugby Union and the considerable investment of resources by Premiership Rugby Academies. The management of injury can also consume valuable time and effort required to develop full potential and, in some cases, can result in disengagement and early dropout from sport.
Aligned to Podium’s ambition to promote and deliver ‘more sport, less injury,’ we are currently working with several Premiership Rugby Academies, such as Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints, to address this problem. This involves supporting the implementation of our SportSmart programme – a collection of tools, educational information, and insights to help track, monitor, and manage the risk of injury. Collectively, the SportSmart programme helps to:
- Improve understanding and communication of injury information;
- Enhance decision-making processes; and
- Optimise the care provided to young people taking part in Rugby Union.
What is our approach?
Collaboration
As part of the initial planning stage of a potential partnership with a Premiership Rugby Academy, we spend time collaborating with key members of staff operating across the range of Academy age-groups (phases). Together, we co-create and agree a shared and realistic plan for successful implementation of the SportSmart programme within that specific context.
If agreed, one element of this plan can involve Podium helping to raise awareness and drive uptake of the SportSmart programme across the network of schools and clubs that feed into an Academy pathway. The aim of this additional effort is to create an integrated approach to monitoring, managing, and reducing the risk of injury.
Collecting meaningful information
Once a shared and realistic action plan has been agreed, implementation of the SportSmart programme typically focuses on producing simple yet meaningful information (i.e., of value and interest to our partner) about the risk, types, and mechanisms of injuries experienced by the young people involved in the Academy pathway.
Collection of this information is often overseen by relevant Academy medical staff and is supported by members of Podium’s Research Team. Meaningful information related to other potential areas of interest, such as injury risk factors, graduated return to activity and sport, and player perceptions of the Academy pathway can also be explored.
Interpreting meaningful information
Having started to collect meaningful information, attention is given to interpreting observed injury patterns and integrating all the information captured in a way that makes sense to the development journey of young people. The dynamic reporting and notification system integrated as part of the SportSmart programme is also supported by members of Podium’s Research Team.
This initially involves providing infographic-style injury reports and supporting relevant staff to make informed decisions about providing the best possible care. Over time, this information helps to inform bespoke strategies to reduce the risk of injury, maximise player availability, and improve long-term health and wellbeing.
Project team
The core project team at Podium currently includes:
- Glenn Hunter, Director of Research and Innovation
- Rob Mann, National Governing Bodies Research Programme Manager
- Caroline Lander, Research and Innovation Consultant
How can you get involved?
We are always looking to explore partnering with other Academies, including a focus on male and/or female Academy pathways.
For more information on how to get involved, please email Rob Mann: rob.mann@podiumanalytics.org