The association and differences of various lower body athletic performance metrics in adolescent male football and volleyball athletes

Abstract

The countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) is considered a primary indicator of lower body muscular power producing capability and has strong positive relationships with field and court sport performance. Performance in the CMVJ is influenced by multiple physiological and anthropometric factors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between CMVJ height, peak lower body force production (Fmax), resisted sled sprint power output (RSS) and fat free body mass (FFM) among male football (FB) and volleyball (VB) players aged 16-18. The study (n=68) included two participant groups (FB group n=33, VB group n=35) all being assessed on CMVJ height (cm), lower body Fmax (N) via isometric back squat test, peak power production (W) via RSS, and FFM (kg) via bioelectric impedance analysis. Participants groups were examined for significant between-group differences with an independent t-test while Pearson product moment correlations between CMVJ height, Fmax (N, N/kg, and N/kg FFM), RSS (W, W/kg, and W/kg FFM) and FFM were calculated. FB group means for body mass and FFM (87.02  17.02 kg; 68.27  8.61 kg, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the VB group (73.95  5.71 kg, 63.84  4.92 kg, respectively). CMVJ height (cm) was significantly higher in the VB group compared to the FB group (52.40  11.28 cm vs. 34.03  8.23 cm; p < 0.05). Significant positive relationships between CMVJ height and Fmax (N/kg) were present among both participant groups (FB: r=0.67; p < 0.05) (VB: r=0.52; p < 0.05). FFM had a significant negative relationship with CMVJ among FB group participants (r=-0.46; p < 0.05), there were no significant relationships between CMVJ height and RSS performance (p > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that relative lower body maximal force producing capabilities have a strong, significant correlation with CMVJ performance among FB and VB athletes. Further, findings suggest that relative Fmax scores by FFM in lieu of body mass does not strengthen the relationship with CMVJ height.