(12) RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP FORCE-TIME METRICS AND SKATING SPEED IN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ATHLETES

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which lower body propulsive force, velocity, power, and jump height during a countermovement jump (CMJ) are related to skating speeds in male and female collegiate ice hockey athletes. Methods: 26 male (age: 22.4 ± 1.2 years, mass: 85.4 ± 11.7 kg, height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m) and 22 female (age: 19.5 ± 1.0 years, mass: 65.6 ± 9.5 kg, height: 1.65 ± 0.06 m) NCAA Division III hockey athletes participated in this cross-sectional study. The athletes were comprised of forwards (males: n = 16, females: n = 13) and defenders (males: n = 10, females: n = 9). Goalies did not participate in this study, since skating speed is less crucial for the goalie position. All participants performed CMJs on a force plate that recorded ground reaction force (GRF) data. They also performed a timed skating test where they skated from goal line to the opposite goal line as fast as possible. Skate test times were converted to skating speed by dividing the distance from goal line to goal line by skating time (m/s). The GRF data recorded during the CMJs was used to generate the following variables: peak force, peak velocity, peak power, and jump height (based on flight time). Peak force and power were normalized by body mass. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the relationships between the CMJ variables and skating speed. Correlation analyses were conducted separately for males and females. The following guidelines were used to assess the strength of the relationships based on the magnitude of the correlation coefficients (r values): 0.10-0.30 = weak, 0.30-0.50 = moderate, 0.50-0.70 = moderately strong, and >0.70 = strong. 95% confidence intervals (CI_95%) were also generated for the correlation coefficients.Results: For males, peak velocity (r = 0.63; CI_95% = [0.29, 0.83]), peak power (r = 0.63; CI_95% = [0.29, 0.83]), and jump height (r = 0.58; CI_95% = [0.22, 0.80]) all exhibited moderately strong, positive relationships with skating speed. Results were similar for females, as peak velocity (r = 0.53; CI_95% = [0.11, 0.79]), peak power (r = 0.54; CI_95% = [0.13, 0.80]), and jump height (r = 0.58; CI_95% = [0.17, 0.82]), also exhibited moderately strong, positive relationships with skating speed. Peak force was not significantly correlated with skating speed for either males (r = 0.16; CI_95% = [-0.25, 0.51]) or females (r = 0.27; CI_95% = [-0.18, 0.62]), as both confidence intervals included 0 (no relationship). Conclusions: Higher CMJ velocity, power, and jump height tended to correspond with faster skating speeds in both male and female collegiate hockey athletes, while force production during the CMJ was not related to skating speed. Practical Applications: Training to enhance lower body power and movement velocity may be a key component for improving skating speed in both male and female collegiate hockey athletes. Our findings also indicate that jump height exhibits a moderately strong correlation with skating speed. Jump height is easier to assess, since it can be measured without a force plate, making it a more feasible way for strength and conditioning coaches to monitor training adaptations among collegiate hockey athletes. Acknowledgements: None