Relationships between strength, sprint, and jump performance in well-trained youth soccer players

Comfort, P; Stewart, A; Bloom, L; Clarkson, BJ

Abstract

Research has demonstrated a clear relationship between absolute and relative strength and sprint and jump performance in adult athletes; however, this relationship in younger athletes has been less extensively studied. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the relationships between strength, sprint, and jump performances in well-trained youth soccer players. Thirty-four young male soccer players (17.2 6 0.6 years; body mass, 72.62 ± 7.42 kg; height, 179.27 ± 6.58 cm) performed a predicted maximal squat test, 20-m sprints, squat jumps (SJs), and countermovement jumps (CMJs). Absolute strength showed the strongest correlations with 5-m sprint times (r = 20.596, p < 0.001, power = 0.99), SJ height (r = 0.762, p < 0.001, power = 1.00), and CMJ height (r = 0.760, p, 0.001, power = 1.00), whereas relative strength demonstrated the strongest correlation with 20-m sprint times (r = 20.672, p < 0.001, power = 0.99). The results of this study illustrate the importance of developing high levels of lower-body strength to enhance sprint and jump performance in youth soccer players, with stronger athletes demonstrating superior sprint and jump performances. © 2013 National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Citation

Comfort, P., Stewart, A., Bloom, L., & Clarkson, B. (2014). Relationships between strength, sprint, and jump performance in well-trained youth soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(1), 173-177. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318291b8c7

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 25, 2014
• Journal: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Print ISSN: 1064-8011
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 173-177
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318291b8c7
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318291b8c7
• Related Public URLs: http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/pages/default.aspx