Association and Predictive Abilities of Jump and Throw Tests to Track Performance in Division I Athletes
Abstract
Sprinting jumping, and throwing are of the most vital abilities in track & field. Although various studies investigated relationships among these three aspects, there is limited empirical evidence as to how they may be correlated and predictive towards track performance. Purpose: To determine associations and predictive abilities of four field performance tests among a static (Accel30) and flying (Fly30) 30-meter sprint. This study also aimed to ascertain associations of kinematic and kinetic components of all field assessments to Accel30 and Fly30 sprint times. Methods: 23 subjects (18-25 years, 1.77 ± 0.10 meters, 78.67 ± 24.15 kg) performed two trials of a backward overhead medicine ball (BOMB) throw, unilateral and bilateral horizontal jump (HJ), vertical jump (VJ), Accel30 sprints, and Fly30 sprints. All field tests were performed on two force platforms (1000 Hz). Accel30 and Fly30 sprints were recorded with a video camera recording (120 fps) to obtain completion times. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was conducted for determining associations between jump and throw tests (VJ, HJ and BOMB throw) with athletic performance tests (Accel30 and Fly30 sprints). Series of Ordinary Least Squares regression analyses (p < 0.01) were conducted for track & field assessments to illustrate whether a particular jump or throw test predicted Accel30 and Fly30 completion time. The best predictive model was selected via forward-backward stepwise regression procedure. Results: Spearman’s rank correlation analyses revealed the BOMB throw to be moderately correlated to Fly30 time (r = -0.45). Large correlations observed between unilateral HJ distance and Accel30 (r = -0.61) as well as towards Fly30 time (r = -0.56). Bilateral HJ distance exhibited very large associations between Accel30 (r = -0.74) as well as between Fly30 completion time (r = -0.71). Jump height from VJ test displayed moderate correlations in Accel30 (r = -0.46) as well as between Fly30 (r = -0.34). Both bilateral and unilateral HJ tests revealed to be most predictive of Accel30 (R² = 0.58 bilateral; R2 = 0.49 unilateral) and towards Fly30 sprint times (R2 = 0.59 bilateral; R2 = 0.50 unilateral) compared to VJ for predicting Accel30 (R2 = 0.31) and Fly30 (R2 = 0.22). Lastly, BOMB throw assessment showed to be least predictive of Accel30 (R2 = 0.19) and Fly30 completion times (R2 = 0.18). Conclusion: Results suggest that the bilateral HJ assessment showed to contain very large correlations and predictions with Accel30 and Fly30 than the BOMB throw, unilateral HJ and VJ tests.
Subject Area
Kinesiology|Physiology
Recommended Citation
Cubillos, Nicholas Ryne, "Association and Predictive Abilities of Jump and Throw Tests to Track Performance in Division I Athletes" (2020). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI28262526.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI28262526