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. 2019 Sep 10;49(12):1923–1947. doi: 10.1007/s40279-019-01170-1

Table 3.

Characteristics of the included studies

Study Sport Position (n) Sample Competition details Classification of eliteness
n Age (years) Body mass (kg) Stature (cm) Type Year Matches (n) Files (n)
Coutts et al. [43] AuF TB 39 25 ± 3 89 ± 9 188 ± 7 Australian Football League NR, 2 seasons 19 35 Successful elite
MB 70
MID 145
TF 23
MF 48
RKS 21
Johnston et al. [44] AuF MID 30 24 ± 3 89 ± 9 187 ± 7 Australian Football League 2011–2012 1–29 278 Successful elite
FF 31
FD 86
RKS 24
Wellman et al. [42] AmF WR 33 21 ± 1 91 ± 12 186 ± 11

NCAA

Division 1

 2014 12 41 World class elite
RB 98 ± 10 182 ± 2 41
QB 93 ± 2 192 ± 2 12
TE 115 ± 7 197 ± 1 21
OL 137 ± 5 192 ± 4 38
DB 86 ± 6 183 ± 5 55
DT 135 ± 0 191 ± 0 17
DE 119 ± 6 193 ± 4 33
LB 106 ± 3 186 ± 3 36
Morencos et al. [18] HK BK (5) 16 26 ± 3 75 ± 6 177 ± 5 Spanish Hockey Premier League NR, 2 seasons 17 45 Competitive elite
MID (6) 42
FOR (5) 26
Cummins et al. [29] RL ADJ (4) 18 25 ± 4 99 ± 7 185 ± 7 National Rugby League 2013 NR 74 World class elite
HUF (3) 36
OB (4) 59
WRF (7) 104
Dempsey et al. [45] RL FOR (37) 57 30 ± 4 103 ± 7 188 ± 5 Four Nations 2011–12 6 37 World class elite
BK (20) 26 ± 4 92 ± 6 182 ± 6 20
Kempton et al. [46] RL ADJ 25 25 ± 4 99 ± 8 185 ± 6 National Rugby League 2010–11 39 118 World class elite
HUF 52
OB 121
WRF 93
Oxendale et al. [47] RL BK 17 25 ± 4 99 ± 10 184 ± 6 English Super League 2014 4 11 World class elite
FOR 17
Furlan et al. [49] RS Team 12 22 ± 3 90 ± 9 185 ± 6 IRB World Series 2013–14 6 21 Successful elite
Higham et al. [48] RS Team 19 21 ± 3 90 ± 7 181 ± 5 IRB World Series NR 11 75 Successful elite
Domestic 16 99
Suarez-Arrones et al. [36] RS Team 12 27 ± 2 86 ± 9 182 ± 7 2 International tournaments NR NR 30 Successful elite
Cunningham et al. [50], senior RU FR 27 26 ± 2 119 ± 5 186 ± 4 Six Nations 2014–15 8 97 World class elite
SR 26 ± 3 117 ± 5 199 ± 2
BR 26 ± 3 118 ± 10 190 ± 3
HB 24 ±3 89 ± 5 180 ± 6
CTR 26 ± 1 102 ± 7 190 ± 4
B3 25 ± 3 92 ± 2 184 ± 4
Cunningham et al. [50], under 20 RU FR 43 20 ± 1 112 ± 6 184 ± 3 Six Nations; Junior World Cup 2014–15 15 161 Successful elite
SR 20 ± 1 115 ± 4 200 ± 2
BR 20 ± 0 102 ± 4 188 ± 3
HB 20 ± 0 84 ± 4 176 ± 2
CTR 20 ± 1 96 ± 7 183 ± 5
B3 20 ± 1 90 ± 5 184 ± 4
Jones et al. [41] RU Team 33 25 ± 4 104 ± 11 NR European Cup; Celtic League 2012–13 13 71 World class elite
Akenhead et al. [16] SOC Team 36 19 ± 1 80 ± 7 183 ± 5 English Premier League Reserve 2010–11 18 648 World class elite
De Hoyo et al. [10] SOC Team 7 18 ± 1 76 ± 7 180 ± 2 Spanish First League NR 1 7 World class elite
Russell et al. [19] SOC Team 5 21 ± 1 70 ± 2 177 ± 3 English PL Reserve Team 2013 1 5 World class elite
Russell et al. [17] SOC Team 11 20 ± 1 71 ± 4 180 ± 10 English Premier League Reserve 2013–14 19 (6 ± 4 per player) 76 World class elite
Tierney et al. [51] SOC WD (10) 46 20 ± 3 80 ± 6 179 ± 5 Under 21 and Under 18 English Football League 2014–15 42 420 Successful elite
CD (9) 378
WM (9) 378
CM (10) 420
FW (8) 336
Wehbe et al. [20] SOC DEF (6) 19 26 ± 5 80 ± 5 183 ± 5 Australian A-League 2011–12 8 48 Successful elite
MID (9) 26 ± 6 75 ± 4 178 ± 5 54
FOR (4) 26 ± 5 81 ± 4 183 ± 7 32

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation

ADJ adjustable, AmF American football, AuF Australian football, B3 back three, BK back, BR back row, CD central defender, CM central midfielder, CTR centre, DB defensive back, DE defensive end, DEF defender, DT defensive tackle, FD fixed defender, FF fixed forward, FOR forward, FR front row, HB half back, HK hockey, HUF hit-up forward, IRB international rugby board, LB linebacker, MB mobile backs, MID midfielders, MF mobile forwards, NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association, NR not reported, OB outside back, OL offensive linesman, QB quarter back, RB running back, RKS rucks, RL rugby league, RS rugby sevens, RU rugby union, SOC soccer, SR second row, TB tall backs, TF tall forwards, TE tight end, WD wide defender, WM wide midfielder, WR wide receiver, WRF wide-running forward