Association between vertical and horizontal force-velocity-power profiles in netball players

Abstract

Netball is a collective sport characterized by intermittent high-intensity actions. Therefore, the players must develop high levels of relative bilateral and unilateral strength and power for both improve performance and also reduce injury risk. The purpose of this study was (i) to provide a reference about the mechanical outputs obtained in the vertical (jumping) and horizontal force-velocity-power (FVP) profile and (ii) observe their relationship, besides the performance in jumping and sprinting in amateur female netball players (age = 24.3 ± 3.2 years, BM = 64.5 ± 5 Kg, height = 172.5 ± 6.2 cm). The variables for both FVP profiles (theoretical maximal force (F0), theoretical maximal velocity (V0) and theoretical maximal power output (Pmax)) were measured with two scientifically validated apps for iOS (My Jump 2 and My Sprint). Our results in regards to the vertical FVP suggest that netball players have low force deficit (36.2 ± 14.6%) and individualized training based on F-V profiling could be beneficial to address their deficit. The moderate correlations found for performance, V0 and Pmax suggest that the improvement in one of the skills (jumping or sprinting) may produce some positive adaptation to the other. However, no association was found in the force production (F0) of the lower limbs for both FVP. Therefore, we recommend that netball players must train specifically ballistic actions in the vertical (jumping) and horizontal direction (sprinting) due to the specificity of both skills and the consequent impact of them on netball performance.

Investigating Vertical and Horizontal Force-Velocity Profiles in Club-Level Field Hockey Athletes: Do Mechanical Characteristics Transfer Between Orientation of Movement?

“…Samozino et al [52] recently identified acceleration performance less than 30m largely depends on P MAX and individual mechanical characteristics, further identifying the necessity to develop and express this mechanical quality to be an effective field hockey player. These findings have been supported in similar studies, but not all (r = 0.27) [53] involving amateur netball players, academy rugby players, high-level sprint athletes and professionl male and female football players, (r = 0.40−0.75) [14,[18][19][20], further highlighting the need for power development expression in field and court sports. However, across these studies, most force variables (F 0 ) did not achieve significance (r ≤ 0.27), thereby demonstrating a greater emphasis on movement velocity capabilities to express maximal external power.…”

“…The stronger kinematic relationship between relative P MAX and v 0 in sprinting compared to jumping is likely due to the necessity to achieve maximal power expression in early acceleration [58] plus the overall duration of the task places a greater emphasis on velocity qualities. Similar P MAX correlations in other population groups including netball, soccer and ballet suggests this relationship may be typical amongst athletes irrespective of their ability level or sport (i.e., novice vs elite) [14,[18][19][20][21].…”

“…When exploring mechanical transfer (i.e., matched variables between each action [vertical/horizontal directed force production]) between vertical and horizontal based actions in amateur, national and elite level team sports [14][15][16][17], research has demonstrated maximal external power showed the strongest significant relationship (r = 0.40−0.75, p ≤ 0.04) between jumping and sprinting actions [14,[18][19][20][21], however this is yet to be explored in field hockey. Despite strong associations with external maximal power, force (r =-0.12−0.58) and velocity (r =-0.31−0.71) demonstrated trivial to moderate, and often non-significant mechanical transfer between actions, potentially highlighting greater independent neuromuscular and physiological characteristics of these two variables [22].…”

Level of Agreement, Reliability, and Minimal Detectable Change of the MusclelabTM Laser Speed Device on Force–Velocity–Power Sprint Profiles in Division II Collegiate Athletes

“…The benefits of FVP profiling include addressing variability in playing level [4,5], sport position [6], and age [7] as well as the ability to take into account external variables, such as time of season [8]. Team sports, such as rugby [3,9], soccer [4,7], ice hockey [10], and netball [11], as well as individual athletic activities, such as ballet [12] and gymnastics [13], have utilized this approach.…”