(17) THE IMPACT OF A ONE-WEEK TRAINING CAMP ON ISOMETRIC MID-THIGH PULL PERFORMANCE IN YOUTH ATHLETES

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a consecutive five-day speed and agility training camp on IMTP performance. Methods: Twenty-five athletes (8 male, 17 female) participated in the study. Athletes completed two IMTP trials, two minutes apart, during pre- and post-testing. The athletes held a two-second quiet stance before beginning each trial. Athletes pulled maximally for five seconds before relaxing. Force plates measured newtons of force with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz. Measures of interest included maximal force, average rate of force development (RFD), and RFD during various time windows. During the consecutive 5-day training camp, athletes participated for three hours each day, with each day consisting of a different focus; upper body mechanics, lower body mechanics, indoor and outdoor agility exercises, lifting technique focus, and plyometrics. Upper body mechanics focused on upper extremity form during sprints and direction changes, while lower body mechanics focused on power production and momentum conservation. These days consisted of indoor and outdoor activities to simulate the athlete’s typical training regimen. Lifting technique training focused on movements involved with major lifts and power exercises such as the power clean. Plyometrics training involved impact training using boxes, medicine balls, and ladders - to increase the stretch shortening cycle efficiency of the athletes. A series of paired samples t-tests were used to analyze pre- and post-camp performance data. Results: Maximal force production displayed a non-significant change for pre- to post-testing (Mean Diff: 27.96 Newtons; p = 0.229; Cohen’s d = -0.247). Similarly, the average RFD performance displayed a non-significant change from pre- to post-testing (Mean Diff: -126.82 N/s; p = 0.121; Cohen’s d = 0.321). Additionally, RFD from 0-0.1ms, 0-0.2ms, and 0-0.3ms showed a non-significant change from pre- to post-testing (Mean Diff: -270.77 N/s; p = 0.330 ; Cohen’s d = 0.199 ), (Mean Diff: -61.80 N/s ; p = 0.727 ; Cohen’s d = 0.071 ),(Mean Diff: -45.27 ; p = 0.589 ; Cohen’s d = 0.109), respectively. All other metrics also displayed non-significant results. Conclusions: One week of a general speed and agility training did not substantially alter IMTP performance in youth athletes. Practical Applications: Study findings suggest that five days of consecutive speed and agility training may be insufficient to produce measurable improvements in IMTP performance in high school athletes. Coaches may need to implement longer or more targeted training programs to elicit significant improvements in these areas. Acknowledgements: Brigham Young University - Idaho, Strength and Conditioning Academy