PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE
Player Profiling is the process of assessing players to make sure:
- They have sufficient technical skill and ability for the grade at which they are playing.
- They are physically conditioned to meet the demands of the sport.
- They are not predisposed to serious injuries.
Player Profiling gives a coach biographical details on a player (contact details, injuries, allergies, medical conditions, history of injury and recovery and performance statistics) that can be used as a base for comparison later in the season, particularly when injuries occur or are suspected.
Playing rugby means preparing well before the rugby season starts. Before pre-season training, every player should have his or her health and physical condition assessed. Some of the key factors to look for when screening are:
- First-time players.
- Players with any pre-existing injuries.
- Players with a history of concussions.
- Older front row players – they could need an x-ray to check that they have no degenerative conditions.
- Front row forwards who have had a neck injury in the past.
The following are suggestions as to what you can screen your players for. Use a diary or download a form so that you can record this information for future use.
- Junior Rugby Union Player Profile
- Social Rugby Union Player Profile
- Competitive Rugby Union Player Profile
- Masters Rugby Union Player Profile
- Draw up a health questionnaire:
- Ask players to list their known medical conditions and how severe they are (for example, they may have severe asthma or mild epilepsy.
- Ask players to list their previous injuries, the treatment they received and who they got the treatment from.
- Do a physical assessment:
- A physical assessment by a sports trainer or physiotherapist can identify things that may put players at greater risk of injury.
- The assessment should test for strength, flexibility, balance, speed, aerobic and anaerobic endurance and anatomical and biomechanical abnormalities.
- Always do follow-up Player Profiling:
- Do two or three assessments a year – especially of the physical assessment. Then you can measure improvement and training effectiveness.