The effects of sport specific training of rugby players on avoidance behaviours during a head-on collision course with an approaching person

Individuals use visual information to plan and adapt movements to dynamically changing environments. This information is used to accurately determine when and where they may come in contact with an object. More specifically, individuals may determine the time prior to contacting an object, known as time-to-contact (TTC). Sport provides a scenario where athletes compete in dynamically changing environments and must interact with opposing players. The effects of sport-specific training on obstacle avoidance is highly controversial and research suggests the quantifiable differences in behaviours compared to non-athletes is highly context specific. The current study aimed to examine if sport-specific training has an impact on the avoidance behaviours of rugby players during a head-on collision course with an approaching person. Female rugby players (N = 10, x- = 20 ± 0.94 years) and non-athletes (N = 10, x- = 21.9 ± 1.6 years) were instructed to walk along a 10 m path towards a goal located along the midline. A female confederate initially positioned along the midline 180° from the participant walked towards the participant to one of four predetermined final positions: 1) along the midline in the participants' starting position; 2) stopped along the midline 2.5 m from her starting position; 3) to the left of the participants' starting position; and 4) to the right of the participants' starting position. Results revealed when the path of the confederate was uncertain, individuals used a consistent TTC to determine when to change their path. The rugby players in the current study were found to avoid significantly later (i.e. smaller TTC) than non-athletes. However, following a change in path, sport-specific training did not impact the avoidance behaviours of the groups, but rather the environment was the regulating factor. When the path of the confederate was uncertain, individuals did not use a single avoidance strategy, instead considered the fit between their individual characteristics (i.e., action capabilities) and components of the environment (i.e. path of the confederate and task constraints). Athletes who are specifically trained to pass through spaces and avoid obstacles (i.e., rugby backs) may consider their action capabilities in conjunction with their visual information to determine time of avoidance.