(39) Association of Lower Body Maximal Strength, Power and Reactive Strength with Sprinting Speed In NCAA Division III Female Softball Players

Several studies in male athletes have shown the importance of lower body strength and power on acceleration and sprinting speed. However, there is a paucity of research in this area for female athletes, and more broadly in softball.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between measures of lower body maximal strength, power and reactive strength with sprinting speed in NCAA Division III softball players. 

Methods: Twenty-five softball players participating at the NCAA Division III level performed sprints over 20 yards (with 10-yard split time) and also assessments of countermovement jump (CMJ; no arm swing, hands on hips), long jump (LJ), and reactive strength index (RSI) from a drop height of 30 cm. An estimated 1-RM for the hex bar deadlift was determined from regular training sessions using a proprietary algorithm (i.e., 3-RM @ 90% + RPE). Descriptive statistics were computed and Pearson correlation coefficients were used in the statistical analysis.

Results: Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation) for key variables were as follows: age (19.9 ± 1.0 yrs), standing height (166.0 ± 6.0 cm) body mass (74.0 ± 13.6 kg), estimated 1-RM (96.9 ± 29.2 kg), relative strength (1.40 ± 0.35), CMJ (33.9 ± 7.4 cm), LJ (176.1 ± 26.5 cm), RSI (1.22 ± 0.55), 10-yd sprint (2.01 ± 0.12 sec), and 20-yd sprint (3.29 ± 0.25 sec). Relative strength was moderately correlated with 10-yd time (r=-0.50), while CMJ and LJ showed moderately-strong correlations (r=-0.70 and -0.74, respectively). RSI showed a moderately-strong correlation (r=-0.76) with 20-yd sprint time.   

Conclusions: In general, there are significant and meaningful associations of lower body maximal strength, power and reactive strength with sprinting speed in this sample of female softball players. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study lends insight into the training methodology of developing sprinting speed in female athletes and also benchmarking for these physical qualities in this sample. Additional work is needed on training adaptations in these physical qualities and their relationship with changes in sprinting speed in female athletes.

Acknowledgements: None