Lower-Body Strength Relationships with Sprint, Jump, and Sport-Specific Skill Performance in High School Girls Softball Players.

Abstract

Softball athletes require multiple fitness traits (e.g., strength, speed, power) and sport-specific skills (e.g., hitting, throwing) for success. Lower-body strength could underpin these qualities; this has received little analysis among high school female athletes. This research investigated correlations between absolute and relative lower-body strength with age, linear speed, lower-body power, and throwing and hitting velocity in high school girls softball athletes. Archival data collected from 34 high school girls softball players (age=14.91±1.00 years; height=1.66±0.07 m; body mass=63.21±9.59 kg) from a private strength and conditioning facility was analyzed. The data included: age, height, and body mass; 0-9.14 and 0-18.29 m sprint interval times; standing broad jump (SBJ) distance (lower-body power); batted ball exit (i.e., hitting) and throwing velocity; and absolute and relative three-repetition maximum (3RM) front squat and hexagonal bar deadlift (HBD). Pearson's correlations (p<0.05) derived relationships between absolute and relative strength with the fitness and sport-specific tests. The results indicated significant relationships between the 3RM HBD with age (r=0.389) and hitting velocity (r=0.418). The 3RM front squat related to the SBJ (r=0.422) and hitting velocity (r=0.457). Relative 3RM HBD correlated with the 0-18.29 m sprint interval (r=-0.349). These results suggested that a strength and conditioning program that improves the lower-body strength of high school girls softball players could contribute to faster sprinting speed, further horizontal jumps, and greater hitting velocity. The results from this study highlights the value of strength enhancement in high school girls softball athletes and provides support for strength and conditioning program provision for these individuals.