Tacklers' head Inertial accelerations can be decreased by altering the way they engage in contact with ball carriers' torsos

S. Edwards, A.J. Gardner, T. Tahu, G. Fuller, G. Strangman, Christopher R. Levi, G.L. Iverson, R. Tucker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate how four types of successfully executed, legal front-on, one-on-one torso tackles influence the tacklers' and ball carriers' inertial head kinematics. Methods A total of 455 successful front-on, one-on-one torso tackle trials completed by 15 rugby code players using three-dimensional motion capture were recorded. Tackles differed with respects to the height of the contact point on the ball carrier's torso. A series of mixed general linear models were conducted. Results The tackler sustained the highest peak resultant linear (P < 0.001) and angular (P < 0.01) head accelerations when contacting the lower torso to execute a "dominant" tackle compared with mid or upper torso, although these latter tackle types had the lowest ball carrier inertial head kinematics. When executing a "smother" tackle technique, a significant decrease in peak resultant linear head acceleration was observed with a vertical "pop" then lock action used, compared with the traditional upper torso tackling technique (P < 0.001). Conclusions Modifying the tackler's engagement with a ball carrier's torso, with respect to height and technical execution, alters the inertial head kinematics of the tackler and the ball carrier. The traditional thinking about optimal tackle technique, as instructed, may need to be reevaluated, with the midtorso being a potential alternative target contact height, whereas changes in tackle execution may be relatively protective for tacklers when executing either a dominant or smother tackle. This study provides critical scientific evidence to underpin revised coaching tackling technique interventions that might enhance player safety. Tackles in which the tackler contacts the ball carrier around the midtorso region, rather than lower torso, produce the lowest acceleration and thus may contribute to reducing head injury risk for the tackler.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1560-1571
Number of pages12
JournalMedicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Volume54
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Open Access - Access Right Statement

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Com- mercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.

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