Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability of a joint to move through its full range of motion (Marshall, 2011). Flexibility is a key physical performance attribute for young rugby players but it is often overlooked in a training programme. Many of the important movements in the game of rugby involve moving a joint effectively through its full range of motion. If the player has movement restrictions about their joints then they may not perform to the best of their ability. If we look back at the LTAD module we will see that a key window of opportunity theoretically exists during childhood in which to develop flexibility. The ages of 6-11 are cited as a sensitive timeframe for the development of flexibility and good joint range of motion in children (Joyce and Lewindon, 2014). Girls tend to be more flexible than boys due to anatomical differences but boys can still achieve very good levels of flexibility with appropriate training. The main way that coaches can improve a player’s flexibility is through stretching and two common methods of stretching will be discussed in more detail in the next sections. The players should stretch to develop flexibility after a training session or in a separate session (Beachle and Earle, 2008). The increased muscle temperature after training may allow for a greater degree of stretch as muscle is more pliable when it is warm. Stretching as a separate session for children playing rugby would generally not be practical as training time is taken up with learning the game and so stretching after training in the cool-down for example may be the best option.