Abstract
Jump testing using electronic force plates has gained interest in sport and rehabilitation settings for evaluating performance and recovery across all levels, from youth to professional. While these devices produce extensive data on jump metrics, little information exists on how they relate to traditional sport performance measures used in athletic or therapy settings for youth athletes. PURPOSE: Examine the relationship between countermovement jump (CMJ) testing measures assessed via the VALD ForceDecks Lite® force plate system and common sport performance tests associated with lower extremity strength, power, agility, and injury risk in elite youth soccer athletes. METHODS: All procedures for this investigation were approved by the institutional review board. Seventy-four female elite soccer athletes (Age: 101yr) were recruited from the surrounding area and provided informed consent before participation. All athletes were then subjected to a battery of traditional sport assessments performed in a randomized order: Pro-agility 20-yard shuttle test time, Y-balance test, knee flexion (hamstring) /extension (quadricep) strength testing via dynamometry, single leg hop distance, and single leg triple hop distance. All athletes also underwent CMJ testing on the ForceDecks Lite system, assessing force, power, rate of force development, limb asymmetry, and velocity for overall jump performance, as well as for the eccentric, concentric, and landing phases. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between force plate measures and traditional performance tests. Significance was set at PRESULTS: Several CMJ metrics were observed to be correlated with one or more of the traditional test measures (P 97 N) was observed to be correlated with all traditional test measures: hamstring (r=0.506) and quadricep (r=0.458) strength (P 151 W) and peak jump power (Avg. 1643 275 W) were observed to be correlated with hamstring (r=0.475, 0.441) and quadricep strength (r=0.450, 0.453), pro agility test (r=-0.346, -0.410), single leg (r=0.246, 0.253), and triple hop distance (r=0.252, 0.259) (P1834 N/s) was found to be correlated with hamstring (r=0.329) and quadricep strength (r=0.334), and the pro agility test (r=-0.271) (P0.19 m/s) was observed to be correlated with the pro agility test (r=-0.570) as well (PCONCLUSION: In youth female soccer athletes, several traditional performance metrics commonly performed in sport and clinic settings correlate with CMJ force plate testing; particularly metrics associated with the concentric component of the CMJ. These findings may aid coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and clinicians to better understand how force plate testing may directly relate to performance parameters that they may be more familiar with. Given the identified associations and the rapid/mobile nature of on-site force plate testing, tests such as the CMJ may have specific advantages when frequent testing is desired for athlete monitoring.
Recommended Citation
Momin, Samiha; Goble, Haley; Miller, Roxanne; Liberman, Shari; and Lambert, Bradley
(2025)
"The Relationship Between Traditional Performance Measures Countermovement Jump Testing in Youth Female Soccer Athletes,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
17, Article 59.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/59
Included in
Health and Physical Education Commons, Medical Education Commons, Sports Sciences Commons
