Balfany, Katherine

Dawes, Jay J.

Dulla, Joseph

Lockie, Robert G.

Mitchell, Peter K

Orr, Rob Marc

English

Law enforcement agencies (LEA) use the academy period to train recruits in the skills needed to undertake the demands of their job. Exercise programming is the responsibility of staff who tend to follow a paramilitary model, with emphasis on calisthenics, running circuits that lacked evidence-based work:rest ratios, and distance running. Programming is typically not targeted towards individuals or ability based, which could be problematic if recruits within a class have different physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of physical training across three academy classes. Retrospective analysis was conducted on three classes from one LEA (Class 1: ♂ = 62, ♀ = 6; Class 2: ♂ = 47,♀ = 7; Class 3: ♂ = 51,♀ = 8). Recruits performed pre- and post-testing in the following assessments: 75-yard pursuit run (75PR), medicine ball throw with a 1.82 kg ball (MBT), and multi-stage fitness test (MSTF). Academy training was conducted over 22 weeks; pre-testing occurred in the week prior to academy, while post-testing occurred in the last few weeks. Multiple repeated measures ANOVA (p&lt;.05) investigated differences in assessment results between classes and pre/post academy training. Due to the nature of LEA academies, each of the classes began their academy training with different fitness levels in at least one assessment. Class 1 (~16.71 s) was significantly faster than Class 3 (~17.42 s) in the 75PR. MBT data showed that Class 3 (~5.40 m) performed poorer than Class 1 and 2 (~6.28-6.60 m). Class 2 (40.79 ± 12.40 shuttles) performed fewer shuttles than Class 1 (48.28 ± 13.61) and 3 (50.00 ± 14.05) in the pre-test MSFT. Following academy, Class 2 was 5% significantly slower on 75PR, while the other two classes showed no improvement. Classes 1 and 3 significantly improved their MBT distance (by 8% and 16%, respectively), while Class 2 showed no change. All three classes completed significantly more shuttles on the MSFT (Class 1: 33%; Class 2: 75%; Class 3: 74%). Given the major improvements in the MSFT, lack of improvement in MBT for one class, and lack of change or decrease in performance in the 75PR (even for Class 3 which started with a lesser 75PR), the data suggests that the physical training programs implemented by staff did not develop recruit’s anaerobic capacities in a consistent manner. Given the majority of law enforcement job tasks tend to be anaerobic in nature, physical training programs should consider an increased focus on anaerobic training during academy to optimize job readiness for recruits. Future research should investigate the performance benefits of training programs that include anaerobic and aerobic development

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Bond UniversityResearch RepositoryRun To The Hills: The Effects of Academy Training on the Physical Fitness of LawEnforcement Recruits across Three ClassesMitchell, Peter K; Balfany, Katherine ; Dulla, Joseph; Dawes, James; Orr, Rob Marc; Lockie,Robert G.Published: 01/10/2018Document Version:Peer reviewed versionLink to publication in Bond University research repository.Recommended citation(APA):Mitchell, P. K., Balfany, K., Dulla, J., Dawes, J. J., Orr, R. M., & Lockie, R. G. (2018). Run To The Hills: TheEffects of Academy Training on the Physical Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits across Three Classes. Postersession presented at The 38th Annual Meeting of the Southwest Regional Chapter of the American College ofSports Medicine, Costa Mesa, United States.General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright ownersand it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.For more information, or if you believe that this document breaches copyright, please contact the Bond University research repositorycoordinator.Download date: 10 May 2019253035404550556065707580859095100105110Pre Academy Post AcademyMSFT (Shuttles Completed)*14151617181920Pre Academy Post Academy75 PR Time(Seconds)Class 1Class 2Class 3Linear (Class 1)Linear (Class 2)Linear (Class 3)✢❖▲Peter K. Mitchell1 w Katherine Balfany1 w Joseph M. Dulla2 w J. Jay Dawes3 w Robin M. Orr4 w Robert G. Lockie11Center for Sport Performance, Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA.2Recruit Training Unit, Training Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles, CA, USA.3Department of Health Sciences, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA. 4Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, Qld, Australia.Run To The Hills: The Effects of Academy Training on the Physical Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits across Three ClassesINTRODUCTIONMETHODSCONCLUSIONSRESULTSABSTRACTLaw enforcement agencies (LEA) use the academy period to train recruits in the skills needed to undertake the demands of their job.Exercise programming is the responsibility of staff who tend to follow a paramilitary model, with emphasis on calisthenics, runningcircuits that lacked evidence-based work:rest ratios, and distance running. Programming is typically not targeted towards individualsor ability based, which could be problematic if recruits within a class have different physical fitness. The purpose of this study was tocompare the effects of physical training across three academy classes. Retrospective analysis was conducted on three classes fromone LEA (Class 1: ♂ = 62, ♀ = 6; Class 2: ♂ = 47,♀ = 7; Class 3: ♂ = 51,♀ = 8). Recruits performed pre- and post-testing in thefollowing assessments: 75-yard pursuit run (75PR), medicine ball throw with a 1.82 kg ball (MBT), and multi-stage fitness test (MSTF).Academy training was conducted over 22 weeks; pre-testing occurred in the week prior to academy, while post-testing occurred inthe last few weeks. Multiple repeated measures ANOVA (p<.05) investigated differences in assessment results between classes andpre/post academy training. Due to the nature of LEA academies, each of the classes began their academy training with differentfitness levels in at least one assessment. Class 1 (~16.71 s) was significantly faster than Class 3 (~17.42 s) in the 75PR. MBT datashowed that Class 3 (~5.40 m) performed poorer than Class 1 and 2 (~6.28-6.60 m). Class 2 (40.79 ± 12.40 shuttles) performed fewershuttles than Class 1 (48.28 ± 13.61) and 3 (50.00 ± 14.05) in the pre-test MSFT. Following academy, Class 2 was 5% significantlyslower on 75PR, while the other two classes showed no improvement. Classes 1 and 3 significantly improved their MBT distance (by8% and 16%, respectively), while Class 2 showed no change. All three classes completed significantly more shuttles on the MSFT(Class 1: 33%; Class 2: 75%; Class 3: 74%). Given the major improvements in the MSFT, lack of improvement in MBT for one class, andlack of change or decrease in performance in the 75PR (even for Class 3 which started with a lesser 75PR), the data suggests that thephysical training programs implemented by staff did not develop recruit’s anaerobic capacities in a consistent manner. Given themajority of law enforcement job tasks tend to be anaerobic in nature, physical training programs should consider an increased focuson anaerobic training during academy to optimize job readiness for recruits. Future research should investigate the performancebenefits of training programs that include anaerobic and aerobic development.• Law enforcement agencies (LEA) use the academy period to train recruits in the skills needed toundertake the demands of their job. Recruits must become prepared for the many physical rigors oflaw enforcement, which can include: jumping, vaulting, sprinting, dragging, pursuing fleeingsuspects, and controlling those resisting arrest (1,4).• As recruits make the transition from the general population to becoming law enforcementpersonnel, they may not be accustomed to the amount and type of physical training that will bedemanded in law enforcement (2). This indicates the need for academy fitness programming thatshould be specific to the demands of law enforcement.• Ideal training for recruits should include exercises that emphasize the movements and explosivenessneeded for the daily tasks of law enforcement (2). Other considerations should be muscular strengthand endurance, anaerobic power, flexibility, and injury prevention (1-3).• Exercise programming is the responsibility of staff who tend to follow a paramilitary model. However,there is a tendency for the majority of law enforcement academy physical training sessions to becentered around calisthenics and running circuits that may lack evidence-based practice (1,4).• The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of physical training across three academyclasses through pre- and post-academy assessment to determine the effectiveness of the trainingregimen implemented by the academy training staff.• Retrospective analysis was conducted on three classes from one law enforcement agency:o Class 1: males = 62 (age=25.7 years ± 4.13, height=178.2cm ± 6.41, body mass=81.7kg ± 10.28),females = 6 (age=26.5 years ± 3.27, height=164.3cm ± 10.44, body mass=66.6kg ± 10.29)o Class 2: males = 47 (age=26.9 years ± 5.98, height=173.7cm ± 9.11, body mass=81.0kg ± 12.28),females = 7 (age=26.4 years ± 6.32, height=165.0 cm ±7.80, body mass=66.0 kg ± 12.28)o Class 3: males = 51 (age=26.8 years ± 5.42, height=175.9cm ± 6.96, body mass=81.9kg ± 10.29),females = 8 (age=26 years ± 3.63, height=164.4cm ± 9.06, body mass=67.5kg ± 10.55)• Recruits performed pre- and post-academy testing in the following assessments: medicine ball throwwith a 2 kg ball (MBT), 75-yard pursuit run (75 PR), and the multi-stage fitness test (MSFT).• Academy training was conducted over 22 weeks. Pre-testing occurred in the week prior to theacademy start. Depending on the schedule for each class, post-testing was conducted during the lastfew weeks of the academy.• Multiple repeated measures ANOVA (p < .05) investigated the differences in assessment resultsbetween classes and pre/post-academy training.• Due to the nature of law enforcement academies, each of the classes began their academy trainingwith different fitness levels in at least one assessment. Class 3 performed significantly lower on MBTthan Classes 1 (p = 0.023) and 2 (p = 0.002). Class 3 was significantly slower (p = 0.003) than Class 1on 75 PR. Class 2 performed significantly fewer shuttles than Classes 1 (p = 0.011) and 3 (p = 0.002).• Post-academy assessment of the MBT showed significant improvement in Classes 1 (p = 0.010) and 3(p < 0.001). The 75 PR did not improve in Classes 1 and 3, while Class 2 performed significantly (p <0.001) poorer. MSFT showed all three classes having significant (p < 0.001 for all three classes)improvement in the amount of shuttles completed.• The data indicated that there were major improvements in the MSFT for all three classes, a lack ofimprovement in MBT for Class 2 (MBT distance decreased, however it was not statisticallysignificant), and lack of change or even decreases in performance in the 75 PR (even for Class 3which started with a significantly slower performance in 75 PR).• These results suggest that the physical training programs implemented for these academy classesconsistently focused on aerobic development. This would suggest a greater implementation ofinterval running and long slow distance running, which is typical of law enforcement academies(1,4).• However, the data also suggests that training staff did not focus on developing recruit’s anaerobiccapacities in a consistent manner. Given the majority of law enforcement job tasks tend to beanaerobic in nature (1,4), physical training programs should consider an increased focus ondeveloping anaerobic power during the academy to optimize job readiness for recruits.• Future research should investigate the performance benefits of training programs that includeanaerobic and aerobic development, as well as ability-based modalities.Figure 1. MBT distance from pre academy assessment to post academy assessment for three classes.Figure 2. The 75 PR time (A) and MSFT shuttles (B) from pre-academy assessment to post-academy assessment forthree classes.* Significant (p < 0.05) improvement in performance from pre-academy to post-academy.▲ Class performed significantly poorer than the other two classes in pre-academy assessments.* Significant (p < 0.05) improvement in performance from pre-academy to post-academy.❖ Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in performance from pre- to post-academy.▲ Class performed significantly (p < 0.05) poorer than the other two classes in pre-academy assessments.✢ Class performed significantly (p < 0.05) poorer than Class 1.References1. Crawley, A. A., Sherman, R. A., Crawley, W. R., & Cosio-lima, L. M. (2015). Physical fitness of police academy cadets: Baseline characteristics s and changes during a16-week academy. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(5), 1416-1424.2. Cooke, C., Dawes, J., & Orr, R. M. (2016). The use of 2 conditioning programs and the fitness characteristics of police academy cadets. Journal of AthleticTraining, 51(11), 887-896.3. Dawes, J. J., Orr, R., Kornhauser, C., Holmes, R., & Pope, R. (2016). Differences in initial fitness scores between highway patrol cadets who successfully complete orfail to complete a 27-week training academy. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 24(6), 76-77.4. Lockie, R. G., Dawes, J. J., Orr, R. M., Stierli, M., Dulla, J. M., & Orjalo, A. J. (2018). Analysis of the effects of sex and age on upper and lower body power for lawenforcement agency recruits before academy training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(7), 1968-1974.A B33.544.555.566.577.588.599.5Pre Academy Post AcademyMBT Distance (Meters)Class 1Class 2Class 3Linear (Class 1)Linear (Class 2)Linear (Class 3)▲* ***

Run To The Hills: The Effects of Academy Training on the Physical Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits across Three Classes

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Run To The Hills: The Effects of Academy Training on the Physical Fitness of Law Enforcement Recruits across Three Classes

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