RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DROP JUMP PERFORMANCE AND LINEAR SPEED IN NCAA DIVISION III BASEBALL PLAYERS

G. Jackson, J. Sedy, K. Alvarenga-Beech, C. Reyes Linfield University, McMinnville, OR Professionals have the challenge of deciding between numerous valid and reliable tests to quantify athletic performance and changes due to training in an efficient and effective manner. Due to cost, time, and energy constraints, professionals are always seeking tests that strongly relate to other methods of assessments. If there is one test that could validly predict performance in a second test, it would be much more efficient in the logistics of measurement and evaluation of athletic performance. PURPOSE: the purpose of this study was to quantify relationships and predictive outcomes between drop jump test (DJ) and linear speed performance. METHODS: Forty-one NCAA Division III baseball players were utilized in this study. All were considered healthy and full participants of their respective team training sessions. All participants reported to the lab for one, 30-minute testing session. Following a standardized dynamic warm-up, their DJ performance was measured. Subjects stood on a 12” box, stepped off, and were instructed to jump as high as they could, as fast as they could as soon as their feet touched the ground. Jump height (JH) and reactive strength index (RSI) were measured. In addition, their linear speed was measuring during a 30-yard sprint (30y). During the 30-yard sprint, their 10-yard time split (10y) and 20- yard time split (20y) were recorded. Linear regressions were utilized to statistically calculate predictive measures from their DJ to their sprint performance. RESULTS: No significant relationships and predictive measures were displayed across DJ metrics to any of the split times during the linear sprint. CONCLUSIONS: The individual metrics of the DJ test did not significantly relate to linear sprint times. Therefore, DJ performance could not predict linear speed performance in this specific athletic group. Many limitations exist from the testing conditions that could have affected the data, so this topic must be investigated further to uncover the relationships