(40) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISCRETE VARIABLES DERIVED FROM THE COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP AND PLAYING ABILITY IN NCAA DIVISION 1 MEN’S BASKETBALL

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between discrete variables provided from performance of the countermovement jump on force platforms and performance in the sport of basketball. As jumping is a component of the sports skill, it is thought that the jumps will elicit some indicators that are related to playing time.

Methods: Subjects were participants in a NCAA Division 1 Power 5 conference on the Men’s Basketball team (n=15, hheight= 1.98± 0.08m, weight= 94.19± 8.06kg, age=21.07± 1.16 years).  Participants completed countermovement jumps on force platforms as a part of their training programs.  The jump was performed with a dowel on the shoulders to eliminate arm swing and the participants began the jump by remaining stationary while standing on plates.  After a successful quiet standing period, the athletes were instructed to jump to a maximal height.  The subjects then rested for approximately 1 minute between tests and completed 3 repetitions.  Playing time was derived from examining the box scores and then the athletes were determined to be above or below the mean in terms of number of matches played. 

Results:  Significant Pearson correlations, means of starters vs nonstarters, and ROC cutoffs are reported for the desired discrete variables in Table 1. 

Conclusion: While not all variables were germane to playing time, there were several that were significantly correlated.  This indicates that jump height, peak relative propulsive power, and impulse ratio are all potential KPI’s for receiving playing time.  As this is a cross sectional study, longitudinal research is needed to examine the relationship between the change in these variables and playing time.   Practical Application: There are relationships between different variables and performance in exercises.  By examining the correlations and their relationship with exercises, it may allow the practitioner to choose the appropriate exercise more precisely for the athlete to continue their development.  For instance, if the athlete has low braking forces, increasing the strength in the back squat may be appropriate as this has been found to greatly impact braking forces.  If the athlete has low propulsive forces, a focus on increasing strength in dead lifts and weightlifting derivatives would be most appropriate.

 

Acknowledgements: None