Perceptions of Injury Risk and Field Conditions as Related to Sport Behaviors, Performance, and Injuries among Collegiate Rugby Club Athletes

Abstract

Field-sport athletes modify behaviors based on perceived risks and field conditions in order to perform at their best and avoid injuries (Gnacinski et al., 2017; Straw et al., 2019). A modified version of the dynamic model of sport injury etiology (Meeuwisse et al., 2007; Rennie et al., 2016) provided a template for examining perceptions of injury risks and field conditions (natural grass/artificial turf) related to sport behaviors, performance, and injuries among nine male collegiate club rugby athletes. Qualitative data derived from pre- and post-season walking field interviews was interpreted via contextual information from surveys, field measurements, and observations during the template coding process (Brooks et al., 2015). Findings showed that athletes modified behaviors based on perceptions of injury risks and field conditions, which influenced their sport performances. The importance of managing perceptions of injury risk, adapting coaching strategies, and improving field conditions represent key implications of this study.