20
ETA Annual Report
Medical (Report)
The multi-disciplinary team has now been fully established since 2011, with 8 team
members maintaining responsibility for each ETA squad during the season. The
team established new members in 2013 and this team will continue through the
coming season in 2013/2014, so elite teams have a consistent point of contact.
The medical team’s role is not limited to the field of
play, but providing preventative advice and
information. Part of this role has led to a variety of
pre-habilitative programmes as well as plyometric
videos to minimise the risk of injury.
Injury data - The team has over 40 years of combined
experience and each year proves more successful
than the last. Over the past 2 seasons, we’ve seen a
reduction in injuries, both in total injuries and those
which resulted in loss of play.
This valuable data allows the team to further
understand the games demands, to focus on specific
areas in order to reduce the injury rate even more.
“
Cari Thorpe Quoted
GPS - Global Positioning Systems
In the name of science and sport, Cari Thorpe (ETA
head of medical services) and Emma Knott (ETA lead
physiotherapist) have joined forces with Dr. Craig
Twist, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology
at Chester University. This team is embarking on a
new and exciting development within Touch. Work
has begun on researching movement and match
demands of the sport using portable Global
Positioning Systems, Touch injuries sustained during
international tournaments, as well as the effect of pretournament training and psychosocial factors on
tournament performance.
Having obtained some interesting data, which is
offering valuable insight into the specific demands of
Touch at elite level, this information is serving to assist
with the elite training programs and supporting with
tactical planning, injury prevention and improvement
in fitness levels and inform players and coaches with
specific recovery strategies. The use of GPS and
regular fitness testing is now being introduced during
the 2014 season, the first of which is planned for the
end of November 2013 where all selected players will
undergo a battery of fitness tests. This is to aid
coaches with the selection process and ensure players
receive the information to guide their training ready
for the up and coming season.
England Touch Association