Tracking Posterior Chain Development in Elite Freshman Football Athletes after an 8-week Strength & Conditioning Developmental Program.
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Myles J. Williams
College:
The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major:
Exercise Science
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Pragya Sharma Ghimire, Walter Andzel
Abstract:
American football is a very explosive sport and requires sudden movements at maximum effort. A large part of what is required for a football athlete to succeed during any phase of training or competition involves the strength of the posterior chain and the ability to function under load. This study aimed to analyze the newcomer strength training program created for freshmen football players at Florida State University and track the posterior chain development based on data from Nordbord. This study was focused on two 4-star athletes, one running back and one defensive back. The Nordbord test hamstring strength was used during an eccentric movement. Force cells are built into the ankle hooks, allowing us to measure the athlete's force production. The athlete kneeled on the board with heels under the hooks with their body in an upright position. Keeping the hips in a neutral position is ideal for this type of movement. Each athlete produced three total reps dropping the chest as close to the ground as possible in a controlled movement during each Nordbord session. The two athletes differed in average force production for the left and right legs (405 N, 403 N, and 363 N, 378N). We also found a difference in asymmetry between two athletes (0.7% and 6.5%). The results suggest that a visual representation of the maximum force each athlete produced was the most important factor related to what's required of the sport of football. Depending on how much force players can produce while under this discomfort separates them from opponents, this is sometimes a requirement of the game. In conclusion, a collegiate freshman football athlete going through a beginner strength training program at Florida State with a focus on ingraining neural patterns, efficient movement, and force production will develop into a stronger athlete and allow them more force production from the posterior chain. This data also concludes that participating in an intense resistance run soon before the competition isn't in an athlete's best interest.