The purpose of this study was to investigate the way in which anthropometric and fitness measures vary by class year before and after a Division I female field hockey competitive season.Anthropometric (mass and percent body fat) and fitness measures (vertical jump and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) distance) were collected on 16 Dual Inlet 5 Way Water Valve athletes (mean ± SD: age = 19.5 ± 0.9 years) before and after a competitive season.
Class year, based on the athlete’s year in college, was used to group athletes in the study.Body mass, vertical jump height, and Yo-Yo IR1 distance all increased pre to post season (p < 0.05).First-year athletes had a significantly lower body mass, vertical jump height and Yo-Yo IR1 distance compared to other class years across the testing period (p < 0.
05).Post season levels for first-years were lower than both pre and post season levels for sophomore or junior athletes.Team mean vertical jump increased 8.9%, with all ORG SPIRULINA POWDER but two athletes improving.
Team mean Yo-Yo IR1 distance increased 16.4%.Athlete training over the course of the study was designed to improve on field playing performance and training was not directly select to improve measures in the study; therefore, the potential success of integrating fitness, speed, and strength development into technical training sessions is indicated.Coaches should be aware that first-year athletes may not be at the same level of conditioning as sophomores and juniors.
Coaches should work specifically with the first-year athletes during the season to monitor their fitness levels.