(18) BODY WEIGHT HIGH-INTENSITY FUNCTIONAL TRAINING ENHANCES ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE AND TRENDS TOWARD BETTER BODY COMPOSITION IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Purpose: High-intensity functional training is a near-maximal effort workout that stresses the body to improve muscle mass and function. This training style has also been reported to improve anaerobic performance in team sports; however, there is a lack of information on this training method in collegiate American-style football players. This study examined the impact of 12 body weight high-intensity functional training sessions on anaerobic performance and body composition in collegiate American-style football players. Methods: Nine male athletes (mean ± SD = age, 22 ± 1 years; body mass, 101 ± 15 kg; height, 179 ± 8 cm; BMI, 31.7 ± 4.0 kg∙m-2) participated in this investigation. The participants completed four weeks of training consisting of 12 body weight high-intensity functional training sessions. Results: We found no significant differences in anaerobic performance between pretests 1 and 2; however, posttest values significantly differed from the pretests (P < 0.05). Vertical jump height increased (η2 = 0.595), pro-agility time (η2 = 0.574) and 40-yard dash time (η2 = 0.788) decreased, and Wingate peak power (η2 = 0.622) and average power (η2 = 0.636) increased at posttest. We observed no significant differences in body composition when comparing pretests 1 and 2 to the posttest. However, large effect sizes suggested trending increases in bone-free fat-free mass (η2 = 0.208) and decreases in body fat percentage (η2 = 0.195). Conclusions: Twelve sessions of bodyweight high-intensity functional training effectively improved anaerobic performance in American football players while maintaining their body composition during the collegiate football preseason. Practical Applications: Certified strength and conditioning specialists who work with collegiate American football teams can utilize these findings to train their athletes and establish performance goals during the pre-season training phase. Body weight high-intensity functional training may help reduce the risk of injury as athletes transition into football-specific activities. Acknowledgements: None