European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity 5, 53-64 (2012) | DOI: 10.5507/euj.2012.005

EVALUATING PERFORMANCE PROGRESSION IN BEGINNER WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

Judith Berzen, Yeshayahu Shayke Hutzler
1 Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, Israel
2 Zinam College for Physical Education and Sport Science

The purpose of this study was to describe the change in selected fitness and skill components over a nine-month period of a new intensive Wheelchair Rugby (WR) practice program. Sixteen WR players of the newly established national league participated in this intervention, which included team and individual practice sessions. Five items of the Beck Battery of Quad Rugby Skills and a 10-min wheelchair push test were performed at the beginning (t 1), after three months (t 2), and after an additional six months period of practice (t 3). Based on repeated measures t-tests for mean data of at least 50% of the participants, significant improvements were found in the 10-min and in the sprint tests between t1 and t 2, and in the picking and manoeuvrability tests between t 2 and t 3. It can be concluded that this training program was effective in improving players' endurance and manoeuvrability. The application of the test battery for training design and progression control appears very useful.

Keywords: training; functional assessment; test; endurance; strength; maneuverability; spinal cord injury

Prepublished online: March 5, 2012; Published: March 31, 2012  Show citation

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Berzen, J., & Shayke Hutzler, Y. (2012). EVALUATING PERFORMANCE PROGRESSION IN BEGINNER WHEELCHAIR RUGBY. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 5(1), 53-64. doi: 10.5507/euj.2012.005
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