WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BREAK THE WORLD RECORD IN THE MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP

The purpose of this study was to bring together 30 years of athlete support and applied research into the horizontal jumps and develop a strategy for an elite athlete to challenge the World Record which has stood for over 27 years. Data on an elite triple jumper who has jumped over 18m was collected in a Diamond League competition and in training. Approach speed, phase distances, technical analysis and anthropometrical data were utilised to develop an interactive 7 segment model from which a new World Record was reconstructed. This study demonstrates a process of how to utilise biomechanical data and implement it into a high-performance setting, providing the coach with clear, objective and meaningful data from which they can set criteria to assist in developing performance

BILATERAL CMJ ASSYMETRIES IN YOUNG MALE ATHLETES: A STUDY ACROSS DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND SPORTS

The purpose of this study was to investigate bilateral countermovement jump asymmetries on a sample of 232 male student-athletes of 10 different sports, on a cross sectional approach over one year duration. Asymmetry in a number of force-related variables during the concentric and eccentric phases of a countermovement jump was defined as the absolute difference in performance between limbs expressed as a percentage of the total performance. Thresholds based on those asymmetries’ means plus standard deviations of the whole sample were set. Our study indicates that regardless of the sport, asymmetries defined in this way are more likely to occur in active boys from 13 to 15 years old

CONTRIBUTION OF THE ARMS IN THE SPRINT START AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON FORCE AND VELOCITY CHARACTERISTICS

The purpose of this case study was to quantify the contribution of the arms in the sprint start and compare the difference in force and velocity characteristics when arm forces are not accounted for. One elite student athlete performed 6 starts with the same block position whilst forces were measured independently for front and rear legs and left and right hands. The arms were found to apply force for 0.14s, initiated a peak force of 593N (0.83 BW) and accounted for 18% of the total vertical impulse generated. Inclusion of the arm forces increased the first vertical peak force by 118N, movement time by 0.03s, vertical toe-off velocity by 0.6m/s and projection angle by 10 degrees. Differences in vertical velocity and projection angle were halved by modifying the vertical system load to BW at the onset of movement. Peak horizontal forces and velocities were similar

Differences in ground reaction waveforms between elite senior and junior academy sprinters during the block phase and first two steps

The block start and initial steps following block exit are fundamental aspects of sprinting and their development is key to junior athletes’ progression. This study assessed the difference in force production between elite senior (including two sub-10 s 100-m sprinters) and junior academy sprinters during the block phase and the first two steps of a sprint. Thirty-seven male sprinters (17 senior, 20 junior) performed a series of maximal effort 20–40 m acceleration from blocks on an indoor track, with the ground reaction forces produced during the block phase and first two steps measured using force platforms. Senior athletes produced better block-phase performances (average horizontal external power; 15.52 ± 1.48 W/kg, M ± SD) compared with the juniors (12.37 ± 2.21 W/kg; effect size ± 90% confidence interval = 1.28 ± 0.38). However, force production during the initial two steps was comparable across groups. Specifically, senior athletes exhibited higher relative force production and ratio of forces during the early (∼15–35%) block phase and higher anteroposterior forces during the transition from bilateral to unilateral pushing (58–62% of the block phase). Front foot force production was also found to differentiate senior and junior groups at rear block exit (∼55% of the block phase). This may be a required response to the greater centre of mass displacement in order to prevent over-rotation in the senior athletes during the front block pushing phase. Collectively, these results indicate that the progression of junior athletes is non-uniform across the block phase and subsequent two contacts, which should be considered when attempting to progress junior athletes towards senior ranks.</p

ASSESSMENT OF DECELERATION ABILITY AND RELATIONSHIP TO APPROACH SPEED AND ECCENTRIC STRENGTH

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for assessing an athlete’s deceleration ability and investigate its relationship with acceleration distance, % maximum speed and eccentric strength. A Laveg LDM 300C was used to collect peak speed and distance of 9 male athletes in a 30m maximal sprint and acceleration-deceleration efforts within set distances of 5, 10, 15 and 20m. The ‘deceleration gradient’ derived from 10m and 5m peak speeds and stopping distances was found to exhibit a low association with eccentric strength of the quadriceps (R2 = 0.284) and hamstrings (R2 = 0.219). Equations were generated linking % maximum speed attained with acceleration distance (R2 = 0.961) and stopping distance (R2 = 0.851) which could help to set realistic conditions for acceleration-deceleration drills and to revise speed zones within match analysis applications

ISOKINETIC STRENGTH PROFILE OF FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS: BETWEEN LIMB COMPARISONS.

The purpose of this study was to provide an isokinetic strength profile of female soccer players and examine whether limb preference influences bilateral and reciprocal knee joint muscle balance. Gravity corrected isokinetic (60°·s-1) concentric and eccentric moment-angle profiles of both limbs were collected from 25 female soccer players from the 2nd tier of English women’s soccer. Bilateral muscle imbalances were present, but limb preference only had small effects on muscle strength asymmetry and reciprocal muscle balance ratios. Trivial to small non-significant differences between preferred and non-preferred limbs were observed throughout isokinetic range for each muscle group in each mode, suggesting that injury mitigation strategies for female soccer players should focus on developing global knee extensor and flexor strength, rather than on regional strength deficits

Which anthropometric and lower body power variables are predictive of professional and amateur playing status in male rugby union players?

The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric and lower body power measurements between current professional and amateur male rugby union players. The present study also sought to determine which anthropometric and physical performance variables were predictive of playing standard. Thirty professional and 30 amateur RU players performed Wattbike 6 s maximal effort (WB6S) and countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) assessments, anthropometric measures were also taken. Dependant variables recorded and analysed including: body mass, stature, Σ8 site skinfolds, WB6S absolute and relative peak power, CMJ and SJ average concentric force, jump height, peak velocity, time to peak force, rate of force development (RFD) and absolute and relative peak force and power. Professional players were heavier, taller and leaner than their amateur counterparts (p < 0.05). Professional players performed significantly better in all physical performance measures except CMJ and SJ time to peak force, CMJ RFD and SJ relative peak force. Variables which were predictive of playing standard were: Σ8 skinfolds, CMJ peak velocity and WB6S absolute and relative peak power (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the current body of male professional RU players is anthropometrically and physically superior to their amateur counterparts, although not all variables assessed here were predictive of playing standard. Data presented here indicate that Σ8 skinfolds, WB6S absolute and relative power and CMJ peak velocity are predictive of playing standard, whereas other anthropometric and strength and power variables are not

KINETIC ANALYSIS OF THE BLOCK START AND FIRST TWO CONTACTS IN SPRINTING

The purpose of this study was to examine the force production characteristics of the arms and each leg in the block start and in the first two contacts of the acceleration phase in sprinting. The set-up consisted of six force platforms embedded in an indoor running track. A total of 61 starts from 19 male international level athletes were collected during maximal effort starts and accelerations between 10m and 40m. The average time over 10m was 1.648 ±0.048 seconds, measured using a Laveg speed gun. Results indicated that the arms accounted for 13.9% of the vertical impulse and -2% to horizontal impulse, the front leg 69% and 60% and the rear leg 25 and 33% respectively. Peak vertical and horizontal forces (relative to BW) in the front leg and their associated RFD’s produced the strongest correlations with time over 10m (all p\u3c0.001)

Validation du « Hunt Squash Accuracy Test » pour évaluer la performance des joueurs dans l'exécution de leurs coups

This study examined the validity of the Hunt Squash Accuracy Test (HSAT) for predicting within-game shot performance and tournament rank. Shots from eight male junior squash players performing the HSAT and tournament match-play were analysed. A typical-error analysis from repeated trials showed the HSAT to be very reliable (1.82%). HSAT rank had significant correlations (p < 0.05) to tournament rank (r = 0.98) and tournament shot success (r = 0.95). HSAT score showed significant correlations to the percentage of winning shots during match-play (r = 0.88). HSAT shots with significant correlations to successful match-play shots were backhand-drive (r = 0.92) and backhand-volley (r = 0.97). These results suggest the HSAT is a valid method of assessing the accuracy and performance of junior squash players. It could potentially be used to track shot improvements and predict match-play performance