This study aimed to identify what male coaches of elite female team sport athletes want to know about the menstrual cycle and its influence on athlete health and performance. Using a mixed-methods concept mapping approach, 18 male coaches of Australian female elite football-codes brainstormed what they wanted to know about the menstrual cycle to work more effectively with female athletes. Ideas were sorted into groups of similar ideas and rated for importance and influence. Thirty-eight unique statements emerged from the brainstorming. These were organised into five clusters/topics following multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis: 1) How does training need to be managed; 2) How is physical performance impacted; 3) What are the medical and dietary considerations; 4) When and how should we communicate with athletes; and 5) How are athletes affected psychologically and emotionally. These findings highlight the need for a comprehensive education framework to improve the knowledge of and practices related to the menstrual cycle. This education should 1) facilitate better recognition and referral of female athletes regarding menstrual cycle dysfunction and related health concerns; 2) encourage collaboration between athletes, coaches, and medical and dietary professionals; and 3) promote effective communication between athletes and coaches about the menstrual cycle.

To inform recruitment, selection, training and testing of male and female rugby sevens players game running movement patterns and physical characteristics were quantified across junior, senior, and elite playing levels. Anthropometric and physical testing (40 m sprint, vertical jump, Yo-Yo IR1) occurred prior to players’ national championships or international tournaments (n = 110 players), while game movements were obtained via GPS (n = 499 game files). The game movements of male players were similar across playing levels except for number of impacts >10 g which were 2 to 4-fold higher in elite (25.0 ± 11.2 impacts · game⁻¹; mean ± SD), than junior (6.3 ± 3.5) and senior (11.8 ± 6.6) players. In men, there were fewer substantial correlations between on- and off-field measures which may reflect similar physical attributes across playing levels, and that other (strength, technical or tactical) factors may better differentiate these players. In females, elite players had more favourable on- and off-field performance measures than juniors and seniors, with moderate to strong correlations between on- and off-field variables. Female players should benefit from additional fitness training, while male players need to balance fitness with other technical and tactical factors.

High-speed running (>5 m · s⁻¹) is commonly reported in men’s rugby union and sevens; however, the appropriateness of using the same speed threshold for Women’s Rugby Sevens players is unclear, and likely underestimates the degree of high-intensity exercise completed by female players. The aim of this study was to establish, for international Women’s Rugby Sevens players, a physiologically defined threshold – speed at the second ventilatory threshold (VT_2speed) – for the analysis of high-intensity running, using mean and individualised thresholds. Game movement patterns (using 5 Hz GPS) of 12 international Women’s Rugby Sevens players (23.5 ± 4.9 years, 1.68 ± 0.04 m, 68.2 ± 7.7 kg; mean ± s) were collected at an international tournament. Seven of these players also completed a treadmill VO_2max test to estimate VT_2speed. Compared to the mean VT_2speed threshold (3.5 m · s⁻¹), the industry-used threshold of 5 m · s⁻¹ underestimated the absolute amount of high-intensity running completed by individual players by up to 30%. Using an individualised threshold, high-intensity running could over- or underestimating high-intensity running by up to 14% compared to the mean VT_2speed threshold. The use of individualised thresholds provides an accurate individualised assessment of game demands to inform the prescription of training.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare physiological, perceptual and biomechanical outcomes between walking on a treadmill and overground surfaces. Five databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science) were searched until September 2022. Included studies needed to be a crossover design comparing biomechanical, physiological, or perceptual measures between motorised-treadmill and overground walking in healthy adults (18-65 years) walking at the same speed (<5% difference). The quality of studies were assessed using a modified Downs and Black Quality Index. Meta-analyses were performed to determine standardised mean difference ± 95% confidence intervals for all main outcome measures. Fifty-five studies were included with 1,005 participants. Relative oxygen consumption (standardised mean difference [95% confidence interval] 0.38 [0.14,0.63]) and cadence (0.22 [0.06,0.38]) are higher during treadmill walking. Whereas stride length (-0.36 [-0.62,-0.11]) and step length (-0.52 [-0.98,-0.06]) are lower during treadmill walking. Most kinetic variables are different between surfaces. The oxygen consumption, spatiotemporal and kinetic differences on the treadmill may be an attempt to increase stability due to the lack of control, discomfort and familiarity on the treadmill. Treadmill construction including surface stiffness and motor power are likely additional constraints that need to be considered and require investigation. This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. Protocol registration is CRD42020208002 (PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) in October 2020.

The purpose of this study was to examine the menstrual cycle (MC) characteristics, explore the impact on performance, and identify barriers to and facilitators of MC‐related communication among high‐performance female adolescent athletes in Singapore. Ninety athletes (15.4 ± 1.8 years) from multiple sports completed an online questionnaire. Eighty‐four athletes were postmenarcheal (menarcheal age 11.9 ± 1.3 years), including two who were using an oral contraceptive pill (OCP). Secondary amenorrhea, current or history of, was self‐reported in 16% of athletes. Sixty‐two percent and 67% of non‐OCP athletes perceived that the MC affected their ability to train and compete, respectively. Athletes preferred speaking to a parent (85%) and a female figure (67%) about MC‐related concerns. Through thematic analysis, three barriers to communication were constructed: (1) pervasive menstrual stigma, (2) constraints of the training environment, and (3) the low value placed on MC‐related conversations. Two facilitators of communication were constructed: (1) respect athletes' individual experiences as menstruating girls and (2) foster a safe space for MC‐related conversations. Findings demonstrated that menstrual irregularities are common in adolescent athletes and screening for MC disorders, particularly primary amenorrhea should be undertaken in this population, with clear support pathways for management including symptom mitigation. To support athletes in raising MC‐related concerns when needed, structured communication pathways that consider individual preferences and involve a (female) point of contact should be established within the training environment. Improving menstrual health literacy among adolescent athletes before any misinformation or negative perceptions are firmly established may contribute to longevity in their athletic careers.