(4) NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION STUDENT ATHLETES' CURRENT AND PRIOR EXPERIENCES WITH WEIGHT TRAINING PROGRAMS: A COMPARISON BY SEX

Purpose: Adequate strength and conditioning programs for athletes prior to the start of a competitive season help build a fitness foundation and prepare players to compete at a high level. The purpose of this study was to compare men and women National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student athletes’ current and previous experiences with weight training programs. Further, this study sought to explore the level of confidence men and women have developing and implementing their weight training programs. Methods: Student-athletes competing in the NCAA at the Division I (D1), II (D2), or III (D3) levels were invited to participate in the anonymous, electronic survey via the online platform, Qualtrics. The survey consisted of 22 questions pertaining to demographics and sport participation, current weight training practices, previous experiences with weight training, and confidence levels related to weight training. Response frequencies were assessed for each question, and sample sizes used to determine frequencies were calculated from completed answers on a question-by-question basis. A Likert scale was used to assess confidence levels with responses including “very confident, confident, unsure, not really, and not at all”. χ2 analyses with Yates’ continuity correction were performed to determine differences in frequencies between sexes with α = 0.05. Results: 157 student athletes provided informed consent (52% women). Athletes that did not complete any questions were excluded from analysis (n=20). The sample included 31% D1; 54% D2; 14.5% D3 athletes. The average age athletes started competing in their respective sports were 8y/o for men and 7y/o for women. 92.6% of women and 80.9% of men reported current engagement in a weight training, of which 95% of women and 88% of men stated it was a sport requirement. No differences were found between sexes in regard to age of starting weight training (M_age=15y; p >0.05). No differences were found related to “confidence in ability to weight training on your own” (p >0.05). 46.6% of women and 52.6% of men described being “very confident”. No differences were found related to “confidence in ability to design your own weight training program” (p >0.05). 15.5% of women and 24.6% of men indicated they were “very confident”. When asked “were there any barriers to starting weight training prior to entering college?”, responses frequently included access to equipment and gym facilities (11 responses), lack of confidence and anxiety in gym settings (8), and previous injury or fear of getting injured (4). Two individuals also mentioned avoiding “lifting before puberty” and not wanting to “stunt body development.” Conclusions: No sex differences were apparent in weight training experience. Both sexes did express confidence in their ability to implement weight training programs. Barriers to entry were noted in relation to high school weight training programs. Addressing accessibility issues may aid increasing participation in youth athletes to coincide with age of sport participation. Further, educating student athletes on proper weight training implementation may bolster self-efficacy and foster lifelong healthy habits. Practical Applications: Evaluating exposure rates to weight training across student athletes may help to inform coaches and trainers of appropriate load progression to optimize performance and reduce the risk of injury. Acknowledgements: Support for this project was provided by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.