(33) EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF BODY COMPOSITION ON VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGIATE MALE HOCKEY PLAYERS

The vertical jump (VJ) test is often used to determine hockey players’ peak power capabilities.  Prior studies have examined the effects that body fat percentage had on power output during vertical and broad jump tests with various athletic populations such as basketball, volleyball, and hockey players, etc.  However, it appears that no study has evaluated the impact of body fat percentage (BF%), body fat mass (BFM), trunk lean mass (TLM), leg lean mass (LLM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and body mass index (BMI) on peak power during a VJ test. 

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between BF%, BFM, TLM, LLM, SMM, and BMI on peak power during a VJ test using club level collegiate male hockey players.  

Methods:  After having descriptive data recorded, 31 male club level collegiate hockey players had their BF%, BFM, TLM, LLM, SMM, and BMI assessed via an InBody 770 Body Composition Analyzer.  Subjects had their reach height measured, participated in a dynamic warm-up, were given a 4 min passive recovery (PR) period after the warmup, and then subjects completed one series of seven to 10 jumps with 30 secs of PR between each jump.  Pearson Correlations were then performed between BF%, BFM, LLM, TLM, SMM, BMI, and VJ (ie. the highest jump) with significance differences determined at p <u>< 0.05. 

Results:  A significant negative moderate correlation existed between BF% (r = 0.561, p = 0.001), BMI (r = 0.583, p = 0.001), and BFM (r = 0.597, p = 0.001) with peak power, while a non-significant negative low relationship occurred between SMM (r = 0.223, p = 0.114) and peak power.  Also, no relationship occurred between TLM (r = 0.038, p = 0.420) and LLM (r = 0.140, p = 0.226) with peak power. 

Conclusions: BF%, BMI, and BFM appear to have a negative moderate relationship with VJ performance in collegiate club male hockey players, while TLM and LLM have no relationship with VJ Performance.  Plus, SMM has a negative low relationship with VJ performance with this specific population.  Future research may be required to determine if gender, fitness level, or a different type of body fat percentage measurement technique may play a factor when considering if BMI, BF%, LLM, TLM, and SMM have a relationship with VJ performance in athletes who utilize this specific test as an assessment tool for measuring peak power.  PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Having a lower BF% may not necessarily predict higher jumping performance in collegiate male hockey players, yet the current study’s results suggest that body composition does have an impact on jumping performance.  Understanding body composition and its relationship to the performance of collegiate male hockey players certainly warrants further consideration and investigation.    

Acknowledgements: None