ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2016 March;175(3):76-84

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Relationships between linear sprint ability and vertical jump height, force and power capabilities in top-level ultimate frisbee players

Peter C. GRIFFITHS ^{1, 2}, Chris JONES ²

¹ College of Engineering, Research Centre in Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine, University of Swansea, Swansea, UK; ² Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, AUT University, North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand

BACKGROUND: Sprint ability is determined greatly by lower-limb extension force and power capabilities and is an important physical attribute for successful performance in team sports such as Ultimate Frisbee. Relationships between force and power measurements during dynamic lower-limb exercises at varying loads and sprint ability have regularly been investigated with a view to informing appropriate resistance training methods. However, no such data currently exists for top level Ultimate Frisbee players with many studies focusing on small load ranges.
METHODS: Twelve top level male Ultimate Frisbee players underwent isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), vertical countermovement-jump (VCMJ), incremental load squat jump (SJ) (0-40 kg) and 40-m sprint acceleration assessments. Players were familiar with plyometric and sprint training but not high load resistance or high explosive training. Pearson correlation coefficients with magnitude based inferences were used to assess the magnitude and probability of relationships between sprint ability and jump height, peak force and power measurements.
RESULTS: Moderate to extremely large relationships (r = 0.45-0.83) ranging from “likely” to “most likely” were seen between sprint ability and jump height and peak power (W/kg) for both VCMJ and SJ at all loads. Only “unclear” trivial to small relationships were seen between IMTP peak force and sprint ability. VCMJ height showed the largest relationship magnitudes in the study (r = 0.79-0.93).
CONCLUSIONS: Lower-limb vertical peak power and peak force at bodyweight should be developed across a range of loads for developing sprint ability in Ultimate Frisbee players with VCMJ height being a potential simple and robust indicator of linear sprint ability.