Speed and power predictors of change of direction ability in elite snow athletes

Authors

  • Felipe A. Schultz NAR-Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, SP, Brazil
  • Pedro Cavazzoni CBDN-Brazilian Snow Sports Federation, SP, Brazil
  • Roberto V. Carnevale CBDN-Brazilian Snow Sports Federation, SP, Brazil
  • César C.C. Abad NAR-Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, SP, Brazil
  • Ronaldo Kobal NAR-Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, SP, Brazil
  • Lucas A. Pereira NAR-Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, SP, Brazil
  • Irineu Loturco NAR-Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, SP, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2015.104.02

Keywords:

Olympic athletes, Winter sports, Cod speed, Elite athletes, Jump squat

Abstract

Change of direction ability (COD speed) is an important physical component of snow sports. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between regular speed and vertical jumping ability, and COD speed in elite snow athletes. Moreover, the correlations between relative mean propulsive power (assessed in the jump squat exercise) and COD speed were quantified. Sixteen elite snow sport athletes executed squat jumps, countermovement jumps, jump squats, and 25 m sprint tests, in addition to a Zig-zag change of direction speed test. The outcomes revealed that vertical jumping height and mean propulsive power are strongly correlated (r ≈ 0.90) with COD speed. Furthermore, snow athletes capable of sprinting faster in a linear course of 25 m performed better in COD speed tests ( r = 0.91). Our results support the use of loaded and unloaded vertical jumping and regular speed tests to evaluate/monitor predictors of COD speed in elite snow athletes. Finally, these relationships suggest that plyometrics and regular speed training should be considered by coaches as effective strategies to enhance COD ability in this specific group of subjects.

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Statistics

Statistics RUA

Published

2016-01-09

How to Cite

Schultz, F. A., Cavazzoni, P., Carnevale, R. V., Abad, C. C., Kobal, R., Pereira, L. A., & Loturco, I. (2016). Speed and power predictors of change of direction ability in elite snow athletes. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 10(4), 847–856. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2015.104.02

Issue

Section

Performance Analysis of Sport