TPCT Underwater Rugby Women
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18+
SponsorFederal University of Vicosa
About this trial
This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether adding a short, structured team-reflection protocol (Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking, TPCT) to regular elite women's underwater rugby training improves tactical efficiency. Both groups complete the same training content and time; the TPCT group uses brief guided discussion during recovery intervals, while the control group uses the same time for passive recovery. Tactical efficiency is assessed using video-recorded 3v3 scrimmages coded with the RUSTAC checklist at baseline and after 6 weeks.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Female elite underwater rugby players aged ≥18 years.
Officially rostered members of the participating high-performance team/squad.
Regular training participation (minimum 2 sessions per week) in the team's programme.
Able to complete study procedures at Baseline (Visit 1) and Post-intervention at 6 weeks (Visit 2), including standardized 3v3 scrimmage video assessment.
Disqualifiers
Current injury, illness, or medical condition that prevents full participation in regular underwater rugby training during the intervention period.
Anticipated prolonged absence (e.g., travel/competing/other commitments) that would prevent meaningful exposure to the intervention dose (e.g., missing >20% of sessions).
Inability to complete the assessment procedures reliably (e.g., unable to participate in the standardized 3v3 assessment or comply with study instructions).
Declines participation or withdraws consent.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Matched Tactical Training Programme (MTT)
BehavioralStandardized underwater rugby tactical training delivered over 6 weeks (3 sessions/week; 18 sessions), \~2 hours/session. Sessions include structured warm-up and an identical tactical training dose across arms using constrained small-sided game bouts targeting pre-specified offensive and defensive tactical principles through constraint manipulation (e.g., space, numerical relations, rules). Free-play exposure is matched across arms. Between-bout intervals include passive recovery/hydration; any structured reflective questioning is delivered only via the TPCT intervention (when applicable).
Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking (TPCT) - Structured Reflective Questioning
BehavioralA structured reflective questioning protocol embedded within regular training during recovery intervals between constrained small-sided game bouts. Delivered across the same 6-week period (3 sessions/week; 18 sessions) as MTT. During each recovery interval, the coach facilitates \~3 minutes of guided team discussion using a fixed set of prompts (e.g., intended objective, what helped/hindered, alternatives, and one collective adjustment for the next bout) to elicit interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and explanation of tactical decisions, supporting collective decision-making.
Treatment groups
26 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: TPCT (Structured Reflective Questioning) + Matched Tactical TrainingExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Matched Tactical Training (MTT) Only (Passive Recovery)Active comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Overall tactical efficiency (RUSTAC overall index)
Overall tactical efficiency derived from video-based coding of standardized 3v3 underwater rugby scrimmages using the RUSTAC checklist. The overall index is computed as successful tactical actions relative to total tactical decisions (expressed as successful actions per 100 decisions) across offensive and defensive phases.
Time frame
Baseline (Visit 1; up to 50 minutes) and Post-intervention at 6 weeks (Visit 2; up to 50 minutes)Secondary outcomes
1
Defensive coverage efficiency (RUSTAC principle-specific index)
Defensive coverage tactical efficiency calculated from RUSTAC coding of standardized 3v3 scrimmages. The principle-specific index is expressed as successful defensive coverage actions per 100 decisions.
Time frame
Baseline (Visit 1; up to 50 minutes) and Post-intervention at 6 weeks (Visit 2; up to 50 minutes)2
Recovery efficiency (RUSTAC principle-specific index)
Recovery tactical efficiency calculated from RUSTAC coding of standardized 3v3 scrimmages. The principle-specific index is expressed as successful recovery actions per 100 decisions.
Time frame
Baseline (Visit 1; up to 50 minutes) and Post-intervention at 6 weeks (Visit 2; up to 50 minutes)3
Penetration efficiency (RUSTAC principle-specific index)
Penetration tactical efficiency calculated from RUSTAC coding of standardized 3v3 scrimmages. The principle-specific index is expressed as successful penetration actions per 100 decisions.
Time frame
Baseline (Visit 1; up to 50 minutes) and Post-intervention at 6 weeks (Visit 2; up to 50 minutes)4
Offensive coverage efficiency (RUSTAC principle-specific index)
Offensive coverage tactical efficiency calculated from RUSTAC coding of standardized 3v3 scrimmages. The principle-specific index is expressed as successful offensive coverage actions per 100 decisions.
Time frame
Baseline (Visit 1; up to 50 minutes) and Post-intervention at 6 weeks (Visit 2; up to 50 minutes)Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov