Research article - (2022)21, 458 - 464
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2022.458
Impact of Sudden Rule Changes on Player Injuries and Performance: Insights from Australian Football
Christopher Wing1,, Nicolas H. Hart2,3,5,6, Fadi Ma’ayah1,4, Kazunori Nosaka1,5
1Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
2Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
3Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Science, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
4School of Education, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
5Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
6School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Christopher Wing
✉ MSc Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, JOONDALUP, WA, Australia, 6027
Email: cewing1@our.ecu.edu.au
Received: 31-05-2022 -- Accepted: 26-08-2022
Published (online): 01-09-2022
ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of reduced quarter time due to COVID-19 pandemic rule changes, on running performance and injuries in Australian Football. Microsensor data for eight matches performed by the same 17 players were compared between the 2019 (standard) and 2020 (COVID-19) seasons using linear and generalised mixed models. Injury rates were assessed in 34 players across the full 2019 season, and 32 players across the full 2020 season. The total distance (ES = 1.28 [0.55 to 2.02]), high-speed (>18 km/h) (ES = 0.44 [-0.24 to 1.12]) and very highspeed (>24 km/h) (ES = 0.27 [-0.41 to 0.94]) distances, PlayerLoad™ (ES = 0.96 [0.25 to 1.67]), high-intensity efforts (ES = 0.48 [-0.20 to 1.16]), and accelerations (ES = 0.33 [-0.34 to 1.01]) were smaller (p ≤ 0.01) for the 2020 than the 2019 season. Expressed relative to playing time, distance (ES=-0.38 [-1.06 to 0.30]), PlayerLoad™ (ES = -0.27 [-0.94 to 0.41]), and acceleration efforts (ES = -0.50 [-1.18 to 0.18]) were greater (p < 0.05) for the 2020 than the 2019 season. No significant differences in maximum ball-in-play periods nor the difference between the 1st and 4th quarters were evident. Injury rates remained similar between 2019 (3.36 per game) and 2020 (3.55 per game). However, the proportion of injuries that led to lost time (missed games) was greater for the 2020 (38%) than 2019 season (24%). The changes in the rules had a profound impact on player performance and increased the likelihood of time loss injuries.
Key words: COVID-19 pandemic, playing rules, athletic performance, global positioning systems, locomotion, match analysis

Key Points
  • Rule changes had predominantly a small effect on running performance
  • Rule changes had no effect upon the decrement of running performance
  • Rule changes had no effect on injury rates
  • Rule changes increased the severity of injuries








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Impact of Sudden Rule Changes on Player Injuries and Performance: Insights from Australian Football
Christopher Wing, Nicolas H. Hart, Fadi Ma’ayah, Kazunori Nosaka
2022(21), 458 - 464.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2022.458