The Reliability and Validity of the Rebound Countermovement Jump in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I American Football Players

Talpey, SW, Drake, M, Haintz, L, Belanger, A, O'Grady, MW, Young, WB, Mundy, PD, James L, Gabbett, TJ, Gardner, EC. The reliability and validity of the rebound countermovement jump in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I American football players. J Strength Cond Res 39(2): 200-209, 2025-The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the rebound countermovement jump (R-CMJ), as an alternate test of leg muscle function to the CMJ and drop jumps (DJs). Because the first phase of the R-CMJ mimics that of the CMJ, it is hypothesized that variables obtained in phase I of the R-CMJ will be like those of a CMJ. Similarly, because the second phase of a R-CMJ mimics a DJ, it is believed that the variables obtained from phase II will be like those from a DJ. Collegiate male American football players ( N = 46) aged 18-24 years completed CMJs and R-CMJs on a portable force plate. Tests were completed on 3 separate days to determine the repeatability of select variables and to establish their validity. In addition, a subgroup ( N = 20) of players from the cohort completed DJs from both 30 cm (DJ30) and 45 cm (DJ45) to determine the concurrent validity of the variables obtained from the second phase of the R-CMJ. Most variables obtained from the CMJ and R-CMJ phase I were found to be reliable, except for time-to-take-off. The variables from the DJ30, DJ45, and R-CMJ phase II displayed moderate to good reliability; however, all coefficient of variations were >10%. Jump height achieved in the CMJ was significantly greater than that achieved in phase I of the R-CMJ. The reactive strength index was significantly different in the R-CMJ compared with the DJ from both 30 and 45 cm heights. Although the R-CMJ may be inviting for coaches to use owing to its ease and time efficiency, the results of this study highlight that it may not provide a valid representation of an athlete's reactive strength.