Isokinetic strength related to jumping but not kicking performance of Australian footballers

The relationships between lower limb strength and two Australian football (AF) skills were assessed for 19 sub-elite AF players. Knee extension (KE) and knee flexion (KF) strength were assessed using a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60, 240 and 360 degrees/sec. The two AF skills evaluated were running vertical jump (VJ) and kicking performance (KP). VJ performance was defined as the maximal jump height measured with a Yardstick device. KP was gauged through video analysis, as the post-contact resultant ball velocity (BV) during maximal effort drop punt kicking. Strength was measured as the isokinetic peak torque (PT value. No significant correlations were detected between the isokinetic knee strength values and maximal kicking velocity. Low to moderate significant correlations (r = 0.55 - 0.69, p < 0.05) were detected between the isokinetic measures and VJ height. It may be inferred that additional strengthening of the knee musculature may enhance running VJ performance, but not necessarily kicking velocity for this group of sub-elite AF players