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A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 48002

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Dr. Robert Lockie

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Guest Editor

Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA
Interests: tactical strength and conditioning; change-of-direction speed; strength and conditioning for team sport athletes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Collegiate sports is a multi-billion dollar industry in the USA, and many schools have a wide range of sports. For sports such as football, baseball, and basketball, there is a clear path from college to the professional ranks via player drafts. Athletes from individual sports such as track and field, tennis, and golf may also progress into the professional arena. As a result, strength and conditioning and sport science is an important focus in collegiate athletic departments. In other parts of the world (e.g. Australia, Asia, Europe), college-aged athletes may participate more in club-based systems or developmental competitions. Regardless, it is important for the strength and conditioning practitioner and sports scientist to understand the physical performance (e.g., strength and power, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, movement coordination, flexibility) of collegiate or college-aged athletes. The aim of this Special Issue is to: 1) describe the physical performance of collegiate or college-aged athletes across a range of sports; 2) discuss specific topics that apply to collegiate or college-aged athletes (e.g., special training considerations, concussions and injury risks, nutrition); and 3) determine best practices for training specific qualities (e.g., strength and power, speed and agility, dynamic stability, cardiovascular endurance) for collegiate or college-aged athletes.

Dr. Robert Lockie
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

student athlete
young adult
males and females
strength and power
aerobic and anaerobic capacity
flexibility
movement coordination
injury prevention
individual and team sports
field and court sports

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plank Times and Lower Extremity Overuse Injury in Collegiate Track-and-Field and Cross Country Athletes

by Lace E. Luedke and Mitchell J. Rauh

Sports 2022, 10(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10030045 - 21 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3575

Abstract

Trunk muscle endurance has been theorized to play a role in running kinematics and lower extremity injury. However, the evidence examining the relationships between static trunk endurance tests, such as plank tests, and lower extremity injury in athletes is conflicting. The purpose of this study was to assess if collegiate cross country and track-and-field athletes with shorter pre-season prone and side plank hold times would have a higher incidence of lower extremity time-loss overuse injury during their competitive sport seasons. During the first week of their competitive season, 75 NCAA Division III uninjured collegiate cross country and track-and-field athletes (52% female; mean age 20.0 ± 1.3 years) performed three trunk endurance plank tests. Hold times for prone plank (PP), right-side plank (RSP) and left-side plank (LSP) were recorded in seconds. Athletes were followed prospectively during the season for lower extremity overuse injury that resulted in limited or missed practices or competitions. Among the athletes, 25 (33.3%) experienced a lower extremity overuse injury. There were no statistically significant mean differences or associations found between PP, RSP or LSP plank test hold times (seconds) and occurrence of lower extremity overuse injury. In isolation, plank hold times appear to have limited utility as a screening test in collegiate track-and-field and cross country athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

12 pages, 1322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics of Proficient and Non-Proficient 2-Point and 3-Point Basketball Shooters

by Dimitrije Cabarkapa, Andrew C. Fry, Damjana V. Cabarkapa, Chloe A. Myers, Grant T. Jones and Michael A. Deane

Sports 2022, 10(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10010002 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 11247

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine kinetic and kinematic characteristics of various types of 2-point and 3-point basketball shooting approaches and determine which variables have the greatest contribution in discriminating proficient (PRO) from non-proficient (N-PRO) shooters. While standing on a force plate, twenty-nine recreationally active males performed a total of 1740 shots by utilizing stationary and step-in shooting approaches. Two high-definition cameras were used to simultaneously capture kinematic parameters of shooting motions. The type of shooting approach showed as a non-influential factor. During the preparatory phase of the shooting motion, PRO 2-point shooters demonstrated higher elbow and basketball height placements, greater flexion in the shoulder and elbow joints while attaining greater release and entry ball angles during the release phase. PRO 3-point shooters demonstrated greater elbow flexion, higher basketball placement, and less hip flexion during the preparatory phase while attaining greater heel, release, and trajectory heights during the release phase. When entered into a full-model discriminant function analysis, elbow angle, elbow height, and release angle variables correctly classified PRO from N-PRO 2-point shooters in 62.1% of cases and hip angle, heel height, and elbow angle variables correctly classified PRO from N-PRO 3-point shooters in 81.6% of cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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9 pages, 919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Eligibility Classification Matter? Tracking Cardiac Autonomic Function during a Collegiate Soccer Season

by Rohan Edmonds, Rowan Kraft, Melissa Cantu, Elizabeth Meister, P. J. Huynh, Scott Bankers and Jacob Siedlik

Sports 2021, 9(6), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9060074 - 25 May 2021

Viewed by 3547

Abstract

The current study examined differences in heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) across student-athlete eligibility classifications within a men’s soccer team. The study also aimed to identify any differences in HRV while competing at home or away. Data collection covered an entire collegiate season, commencing in the preseason and concluding upon elimination from the NCAA Soccer tournament. Comparisons of HR and HRV, paired with self-reported subjective measures, were documented between student-athlete eligibility classifications, home versus away games, and based on soccer position (forward, midfielder, defender, goalkeeper). HR and HRV were similar based on student-athlete eligibility. Heart rate exhibited a small, but statistically significant decrease (β = −1.7 bpm (95% CI: −2.9, 0.57), p = 0.003) for the away games relative to home. HRV showed a statistically significant increase in the away game setting (β = 2.1 (95% CI: 0.78, 3.38), p = 0.002). No difference in HRV was observed across eligibility classification. This lack of difference may be attributed to a different perception of stress amongst male athletes. Athletes also exhibited a reduced HRV at home, likely as an indication of their readiness to compete paired with an increased self-confidence, given there was no difference in any subjective measures of mood or stress or between games played away or at home. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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13 pages, 238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Reliable and Relatable Force–Time Metrics in Athletes—Considerations for the Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull and Countermovement Jump

by Justin J. Merrigan, Jason D. Stone, W. Guy Hornsby and Joshua A. Hagen

Sports 2021, 9(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9010004 - 31 Dec 2020

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 8696

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate intrasession reliability of countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) force–time characteristics, as well as relationships between CMJ and IMTP metrics. Division I sport and club athletes (n = 112) completed two maximal effort CMJ and IMTP trials, in that order, on force plates. Relative and absolute reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) > 0.80 and coefficients of variation (CVs) < 10%. Intrasession reliability was acceptable for the majority of the CMJ force–time metrics except for concentric rate of force development (RFD), eccentric impulse and RFD, and lower limb stiffness. The IMTP’s time to peak force, instantaneous force at 150 ms, instantaneous net force, and RFD measures were not reliable. Statistically significant weak to moderate relationships (r = 0.20–0.46) existed between allometrically scaled CMJ and IMTP metrics, with the exception of CMJ eccentric mean power not being related with IMTP performances. A majority of CMJ and IMTP metrics met acceptable reliability standards, except RFD measures which should be used with caution. Provided CMJs and IMTPs are indicative of distinct physical fitness capabilities, it is suggested to monitor athlete performance in both tests via changes in those variables that demonstrate the greatest degree of reliability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

13 pages, 1080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of the Barbell Hip Thrust on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement of Change of Direction Speed in College-Aged Men and Women

by Ashley J. Orjalo, Samuel J. Callaghan and Robert G. Lockie

Sports 2020, 8(12), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8120151 - 24 Nov 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4480

Abstract

This study investigated whether the barbell hip thrust (BHT) enhanced change-of-direction (COD) speed measured by the 505 COD speed test. Forty recreationally trained individuals completed three sessions. Session 1 included one-repetition maximum (1RM) BHT testing to measure absolute and relative strength. Sessions 2 and 3 involved two counter-balanced conditioning activities (CAs): 3 sets × 5 repetitions of the BHT at 85% 1RM and a control condition (CC; 6 min rest). The 505 COD speed test was performed 5 and 2.5 min pre-CA, and 4, 8, 12, and 16 min post-CA in each session. A 2 × 5 repeated-measures ANOVA (p < 0.05) calculated performance changes across time post-CA. A 2 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVA analyzed best potentiated performance. Partial correlations controlling for sex calculated relationships between the 1RM BHT and 505 COD speed test percent potentiation. There was a significant main effect for time (p < 0.001), but not for condition (p = 0.271) or condition × time (p = 0.295). There were no significant correlations between 1RM BHT and potentiation. The 85% 1RM BHT did potentiate the 505 4–16 min post-CA but no more than the CC. Nonetheless, a heavy BHT could be programmed prior to COD drills as COD speed could be potentiated and performance improved in men and women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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12 pages, 629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Multimodal Fitness Assessments and Rowing Ergometer Performance in Collegiate Female Athletes

by Clifton J. Holmes, Bjoern Hornikel, Katherine Sullivan and Michael V. Fedewa

Sports 2020, 8(10), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8100136 - 15 Oct 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2831

Abstract

The purpose was to examine the association of critical power from a three-minute all-out row (CP_3-min) and peak power from a one-stroke maximum test (1-Stroke) with laboratory-based fitness assessments (peak oxygen consumption [

\dot{V} O

_2peak] and Wingate anaerobic [...] Read more.

\dot{V} O

_2peak] and Wingate anaerobic test [WAnT]) and 6000 m (6K) and 2000 m (2K) rowing ergometer performance. Thirty-one female collegiate rowers (20.2 ± 1.1 years, 70.9 ± 6.9 kg, and 172.2 ± 4.8 cm) participated in fitness and rowing performance testing. Pearson’s correlations, linear regression, and Cohen’s q were used to determine statistical relationships. Absolute

\dot{V} O

_2peak values displayed significant correlations with 6K_total (−0.68), 6K_split (−0.68), 2K_total (−0.64), and 2K_split (−0.43). Relative

\dot{V} O

_2peak displayed significant correlations with 6K_total (−0.36), and 6K_split (−0.37). CP_3-min demonstrated significant correlations with 6K_total (−0.62), 6K_split (−0.62), 2K_total (−0.61), and 2K_split (−0.99). For 2K_split, a significant difference was observed between relative

\dot{V} O

_2peak and CP_3-min correlations with a “large” effect size (q = 2.367). Furthermore, 1-Stroke showed significant associations with 6K_total (−0.63), 6K_split (−0.63), 2K_total (−0.62), and 2K_split (−0.44), while WAnT produced non-significant correlations. Absolute

\dot{V} O

_2peak CP_3-min accounted for significant proportions of variance observed with performance measures (p < 0.05). Practitioners should consider incorporating CP_3-min and 1-Stroke as additional tests for gauging rowing performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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13 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of an Initial Muscle Strength Level on Sports Performance Changes in Collegiate Soccer Players

by Ai Ishida, Kyle Rochau, Kyle P. Findlay, Brandon Devero, Marco Duca and Michael H. Stone

Sports 2020, 8(9), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8090127 - 15 Sep 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4003

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate effects of partial block periodized strength training on physical performance and to examine relationships between initial muscle strength measured with isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and performance changes after 7 weeks of strength training. Seventeen collegiate male soccer players participated. Initial muscle strength was determined using IMTP while physical performance included 10 m and 20 m sprints and static vertical jump with a polyvinyl chloride pipe (SJ0), 20 kg barbell (SJ20), and barbell loaded to 40 kg bar (SJ40). Performance testing was performed at three points: before first week (baseline), fourth week (T1), and seventh week (T2). Statistically small to moderate changes were found from baseline to T2 in peak power (PP; p < 0.001, ES = 0.49), net impulse (NI; p < 0.001, ES = 0.49), peak velocity (PV; p < 0.001, ES = 0.62), allometrically scaled PP (PPa; p < 0.001, ES = 0.62) in SJ20 and jump height (JH) in SJ40 (p < 0.001, ES = 0.36). Moderate to large correlations were found between isometric peak force and the changes from baseline to T2 in SJ20 PP (p = 0.04, r = −0.49), SJ20 PF (p = 0.03, r = −0.52), PPa (p = 0.04, r = −0.50), and SJ20 allometrically scaled peak force (p = 0.04, r = −0.49). Properly structured strength training maximizes task-specific physical performance. Initial muscle strength negatively affects the magnitudes of adaptations to physical performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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13 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Lateral Bounds on Post-Activation Potentiation of Change-of-Direction Speed Measured by the 505 Test in College-Aged Men and Women

by Ashley J. Orjalo, Robert G. Lockie, Katherine Balfany and Samuel J. Callaghan

Sports 2020, 8(5), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8050071 - 22 May 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4860

Abstract

Forty recreationally-trained individuals completed four testing sessions to determine whether lateral bounds (LB) or weighted lateral bounds enhanced change-of-direction (COD) speed measured by the 505 COD speed test. Session 1 included vertical jump and lateral bound (LB) testing to measure power. Sessions 2–4 involved three randomized conditioning activities (CA): 3 × 5 LB; 3 × 5 weighted LB (10% body mass provided by a weighted vest); and a control condition (4-min rest). The 505 COD speed test was performed 5- and 2.5-min pre-CA, and ~15 s, 4, 8, 12, and 16 min post-CA. A 3 × 6 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculated performance changes across time points post-CA. A 3 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA analyzed best potentiated performance. Smallest worthwhile change (SWC) measured within-subject 505 COD speed test performance. Partial correlations controlling for sex calculated relationships between the vertical jump, LB, and percent potentiation. There were no differences (p = 0.919) in 505 time relative to baseline for any CA, nor was the SWC exceeded. The best potentiated 505 time was faster (p < 0.001) than baseline for all CA, with no between-CA differences. There were no significant (p = 0.056–0.993) correlations between power and potentiation. LB and weighted LB did not potentiate the 505 COD speed test, although performance was not hindered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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16 pages, 1179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical and Physiological Responses of U-14, U-16, and U-18 Soccer Players on Different Small-Sided Games

by Jorge López-Fernández, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Jorge García-Unanue, Enrique Hernando and Leonor Gallardo

Sports 2020, 8(5), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8050066 - 18 May 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3366

Abstract

As most existing studies in youth academies are focused on top players, the objective of this research is to analyze the physical and physiological demands of various small-sided games (SSGs) on different age categories within a sub-elite soccer academy. We evaluated 63 young players from a Spanish sub-elite academy (under 14 = 21; under 16 = 21; under 18 = 21). Players performed four different small-side games focused on possession game (3-a-side; 4-a-side; 5-a-side; 6-a-side). The global indicators of performance and high-intensity actions were recorded through global positioning systems, whereas the heart rate responses were measured using heart rate monitors. Results: Under 16 ran a greater distance at high-intensity velocity than under 14 in the small side games 3v3 and 6v6. Furthermore, under 16 also ran a greater distance at high-intensity velocity than under 18 in the small side game 3v3 (p < 0.01). Under 14 showed greater acceleration at the highest intensity (> 2.75 m/s2) than the other age groups, under 16 and U18 (p < 0.01; ES (effect size) > 1). According to the physiological load, SSG 3v3 presented lower outcomes in Zone 6 (> 95% HRmax) than the small side game 4v4 and the small side game 5v5, in both under 14 and under 16. The workload of SSGs varies depending on the number of players, but also depending on the players’ ages. Therefore, when designing the SSGs it is important to consider both the players’ ages and the workload that want to be achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Performance of Collegiate or College-Aged Athletes)

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