The Reliability of the Prowler in High School Male Football Players

Horizontal plane muscular power output is important in sports such as football especially for down lineman who must engage an opponent and push them for a number of yards. The Prowler resistance sled is a commonly used apparatus that aids in the development of horizontal plane muscular power output. However, there is limited documentation regarding the Prowler＇s role as a strength and conditioning training modality as well as its potential use as an assessment tool for measuring horizontal plane muscular power output. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the Prowler sled push in High School male football players. High School male football players （n = 16） performed two trials of the Prowler sled push 91 kilograms （200 pounds） for a distance of 9.1 meters （10 yards）. Each trial was timed with a handheld stop watch with a 2-3 minute rest period between trials. The trial 1 and 2 scores were 5.14 ±0.95 and 5.15 ±0.88 seconds respectively. The interclass and intraclass reliability coefficients were r = 0.93 and ICC = 0.93. The standard error of the measure was SEre = 0.25 seconds with 90% confidence limits Of UL： 0.36, LL： 0.20. The mean difference between trials was 0.01 ±0.36 seconds （90% confidence limits Of UL： 0.17, LL： -0.14）. Within the parameters of this study, the Prowler sled push is a highly reliable field test for measuring horizontal plane muscular power output.

The Reliability of the 300-Yard Shuttle Run in High School Girls Basketball Players

The 300-yard shuttle run is a field test commonly used to assess anaerobic capacity. There is limited documentation regarding the reliability of the shuttle run for various populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the 300-yard shuttle run in High School girls basketball players. Thirty nine High School girls basketball players performed two separate sessions of the 300-yard shuttle run. During each session, the participants completed two trials of the 300-yard shuttle run separated by a 5-minute rest period. The trial 1 and 2 scores were 66.2 - 4.9 and 69.1 - 6.0 seconds, respectively. The interclass and intraclass reliability coefficients were r = 0.84 and ICC = 0.83. The standard error of the measure was SEm = 2.2 seconds with 90% confidence limits Of UL： 2.6, LL： 1.9. The typical error expressed as a coefficient of variation percent was CV% = 3.2 with 90% confidence limits Of UL： 3.7, LL： 2.8. Within the parameters of this study, the 300-yard shuttle run is a sufficiently reliable field test for measuring anaerobic capacity.

Survey of Utah High School Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches

Strength and conditioning coaches have become a vital part of sport programs. The majority of college and professional teams have one or more strength and conditioning coaches on their staff. Currently there is limited information on the profile of high school strength and conditioning coaches. This study provides a profile, which can be used by state athletic associations, school districts, athletic directors, and head coaches, to determine the desired criteria for high school strength and conditioning coaches. This study also provides future coaches with a guide to help them become appealing candidates for positions as high school strength and conditioning coaches. PURPOSE： The purpose of this study was to identify the individual responsible for designing and implementing the football strength and conditioning programs in Utah high schools and provide a profile of the coach and the program. METHODS： The participants were high school football strength and conditioning coaches in the state of Utah. Participants were asked to complete an online survey. RESULTS： Thirty-six percent （36/100） of the surveys were completed and useable for the study. Eighty seven percent of the respondents identified the strength and conditioning coach as their secondary position in the football program. All （n = 36） of the respondents held at least a Bachelor degree and a majority （61.1%） held a graduate degree. Physical Education was the most widely reported major in undergraduate degrees, while the majority of graduate degrees were in areas outside of the physical education/exercise field （63.6%）. A total of 64.5% of the respondents did not hold a strength and conditioning certification. Strength and conditioning experience ranged from 30 to 2 years among respondents. CONCLUSION： Within the parameters of this study, a profile of the coaches and the respective strength and conditioning programs has been provided. The data culled during this study is inconclusive with respect to the preparation of coaches and administration of strength and conditioning protocols with respect to team wins and losses.

The Reliability of the Anaerobic Power Dummy Throw Test in High School Wrestlers:A Pilot Study

AP(anaerobic power)output is an important physical characteristic that is required to succeed in sports such as wrestling.The Wingate test is considered the Gold Standard for assessing AP but is not specific to the sport of wrestling.The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of a novel field test known as the LWAPT(Lopez wrestling anaerobic power test)for the assessment of AP.The participants were male high school wrestlers(n=10,age:17.0±0.8 yrs,mass:70.9±10.2 kgs).The participants met on one occasion in order to complete the testing protocol.The protocol initiated with the participants completing a 10-15 minute dynamic WU(warm-up)that included three practice dummy throw attempts(dummy mass=31.75 kgs).Following the dynamic WU(≈5 minutes),the participants performed two trials of the LWAPT.In order to perform the LWAPT,wrestlers stood behind the wrestling dummy in a squat position with legs bent at 45-90 degrees.Next the wrestlers wrapped their arms around the waist of the dummy and on the signal“go”the wrestlers quickly exploded up,lifting the dummy by getting triple extension with the ankles,knees and hips as one would in a power clean.After the wrestler was fully extended,he turned in midair in order to drive the dummy onto its stomach on the ground,where the wrestler was on top of the back of the dummy(a common position after an opponent has been thrown).The participant then repositioned the dummy to the original position to execute another throw.The participants completed as many dummy throws as possible during the one minute trials.The LWAPT trials were separated by 15 minutes.The trial scores were 15.6±2.5 and 17.2±1.5 throws respectively.The interclass and intraclass reliability coefficients were r=0.84 and ICC=0.80.The standard error of the measure was SEm=1.0 throws with 90%confidence limits of UL:1.7,LL:0.7.The mean difference between trials was 1.6±1.4 throws(90%confidence limits of UL:2.4,LL:0.8).Bland-Altman plots suggested agreement between trials with no evidence of heteroscedasticity.The LWAPT exhibits moderate to high reliability as an assessment of AP.The inclusion of additional dummy throw trials to the assessment protocol may enhance the degree of reliability of the dummy throw test as a measure of AP.

The Effects of a Complex Training Protocol on Vertical Jump Performance in Male High School Basketball Players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CT （complex training） on VJ （vertical jump）. It was hypothesized that VJ height would be enhanced through CT and even greater increases would occur as a result of higher intensity resistance exercise. Twenty male high school basketball players were divided into two training groups： a H1 （high intensity）, low repetition group and a medium intensity, HR （high repetition） group. Each training group trained twice per week for six weeks. Training protocols involved three sets of 8-10 squat repetitions （80%-85% 1RM （repetition maximum）） for the HI group followed by ten countermovement jumps and thre.e sets of 12-15 squat repetitions （60%-70% 1RM） for the HR group followed by ten countermovement jumps. A three minute rest period was utilized between each set. Participants were tested at weeks 1, 3, and 6. The results of this study revealed that there was not a significant difference between the two CT protocols with respect to VJ （p = 0.077）. At week 6 both groups increased VJ significantly; HI group （4.0 ±1.8 cm, p 〈 0.01） and the HR group （2.7 ± 1.6 cm, p 〈 0.01）. Within the parameters of this study CT with either HI or HR protocols are effective at improving VJ.

Post Activation Potentiation in North American High School Football Players

Post activation potentiation （PAP） is an acute enhancement of muscular power production resulting fi＇om a high intensity potentiating exercise. Practical applications of the PAP phenomena as a warmup strategy are the focus of ongoing research. This study compared the effects of a dynamic and a PAP warm up strategy on speed and horizontal plane muscular power output. High School male football players （n = 16） participated in a repeated measures cross over design study consisting of 3 testing days. Day 1： one repetition maximum （1-RM） back squats were established. Day 2： half of the participants completed a dynamic warmup consisting of dynamic movements （ex. high knees, butt kickers, frog jumps, cherry pickers, lateral slide, karaokes, back pedal） while the other half of the participants performed a PAP warmup consisting of back squats culminating in a set of 4 repetitions at 85% of 1-RM. Following the warmups （4-minutes）, the participants performed 3 trials of a weighted sled push 91 kilograms （200 pounds） over a 9.1 meter （10 yards） linear path. Following the sled pushes, the participants then performed three trials of 18.2 meter （20 yards） sprints. Day 3： participants crossed over with respect to the warmup procedures and again performed the three sled push and sprint trials. Dependent t-tests were used to compare the sled push and sprint times between warm up conditions. Both the 18.2 meter sprint （P 〈 0.01） and the 91 kilogram sled push （P 〈 0.01） showed a significant improvement when PAP was utilized as a warmup, rather than the dynamic warmup. Within the parameters of the study, it is concluded that PAP as a warm up strategy enhances sprint ability and horizontal plane muscular power output.

Body Mass Index of North American Participants at the World Masters Games

WMG （World Masters Games） athletes have either pursued a physically active lifestyle for an extended period of time or have initiated exercise/sport in later life. This unique cohort of middle-aged to older-aged adults remains relatively uninvestigated with regards to various measures of health. With a need for multifaceted solutions to the obesity epidemic, investigating special populations such as those competing in sport at older ages may further the understanding of the nexus between aging, physical activity and obesity. This study aims to investigate the BMI （body mass index） of North American WMG competitors with respect to national health guidelines and demographics. An online survey was utilized to collect demographic information from athletes competing at the Sydney WMG. BMI was derived using the participant＇s height and body mass. A total of 928 （46.7% male, 53.3% female） participants from Canada and the United States （age： 52.6 ± 9.8 years） completed the survey. The top 5 sports in which participants competed were football （25.6%）, track/field （15.4%）, swimming （8.4%）, volleyball （8.2%）, and softball （7.8%）. Female and male BMI （kg/m2） across all sports were： 〉 30 （obese： 13.9%）, 25-29.9 （overweight： 34.1%）, 18.5-24.9 （normal： 50.3%）, and 〈18.5 （underweight： 1.7%）. Data indicated that BMI was a health risk factor for 13.9% of the participants and a developing risk factor for 34.1% of the participants. Analysis demonstrated a significantly reduced （P 〈 0.05） classification of obesity of the North American WMG competitors when compared to Canadian and United States national populations. It is believed that adherence to exercise improves indices of general health. A key index of health （obesity） is significantly lower in incidence for North American WMG competitors when compared to Canadian and US populations.