Sprint acceleration force-velocity-power characteristics in drafted vs non-drafted junior Australian football players: Preliminary results

Abstract

© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This investigation aimed to compare the maximal sprint acceleration profiles of drafted and non-drafted elite junior Australian football (AF) players. Nineteen players (10 drafted and 9 non-drafted) from an elite junior AF state team participated in this study. Instantaneous velocity was measured via radar gun during maximal 30 m sprints. The velocity-time data were analysed to derive individual force-velocity-power characteristics and sprint times. No significant differences existed between groups, however drafted players reached moderately faster maximum velocity (Hedges’ g = 0.70 [−0.08; 1.48] and theoretical maximum velocity (g = 0.65 [−0.13; 1.42]) than non-drafted players indicating a superior ability to apply higher amounts of force at increasing sprinting velocity. Further, drafted players produced moderately higher absolute theoretical maximum force (g = 0.72 [−0.06; 1.50]) and absolute maximum power (g = 0.83 [0.04; 1.62]) which reflects their moderately higher body mass (g = 0.61[−0.16;1.38]). Although not significant, in this sample of elite junior AF players, those drafted into the AFL displayed greater absolute sprint acceleration characteristics and maximal velocity capabilities than their non-drafted counterparts (moderate effect size). Whether force-velocity-power characteristics can be more beneficial in differentiating sprint performance of elite junior Australian footballers compared to the traditional sprint time approach warrants further investigation with a larger sample size.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2021

ISSN

24733938

Publication Title

Science and Medicine in Football

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

School

Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research / Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP)

RAS ID

35294

Comments

Edwards, T., Piggott, B., Banyard, H. G., Haff, G. G., & Joyce, C. (2021). Sprint acceleration force-velocity-power characteristics in drafted vs non-drafted junior Australian football players: Preliminary results. Science and Medicine in Football, 5(3), 204-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2020.1830159

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1080/24733938.2020.1830159