CAN THROWING PERFORMANCE IN NCAA DI THROWERS, BE PREDICTED THROUGH FORCE PLATE, JUMPING METRICS

In track and field, throwing is an event that has many factors influencing an athlete’s performance. Research has found strength, power, velocity, and biological determinants as main variables associated with throwing performance. Previous studies on elite shot put athletes have found correlations between countermovement jump (CMJ) variables of jump height, power, and velocity with performance but have not linked CMJ variables to other throwing events. This study aimed to examine if selected variables from CMJs can predict throwing performance in NCAA DI throwers. Average CMJ variables of jump height, reactive strength index modified (RSImod), time to takeoff, peak braking force, peak propulsive force, peak braking velocity, peak propulsive velocity, peak propulsive power, and peak braking power were recorded using Hawkin Dynamics force plates and hypothesized that all variables would significantly predict throwing performance. Throwing performance was recorded from official results and only the furthest mark from each meet was used to obtain a performance score. Descriptive statistics were recorded, and correlations were conducted to omit variables that showed multicollinearity. For the final model, an SPSS mixed model analysis was used to determine if jump height, time to takeoff, peak braking force, peak braking velocity, peak propulsive power, and peak braking power can predict throwing performance. Results showed peak braking velocity, peak propulsive power, and peak braking power to be significant predictors of throwing performance. These findings provide valuable insight for strength and conditioning professionals working with track and field throwers, both in the off-season creating training programs to maximize these variables and during the season monitoring workloads to ensure these variables are peaking before competition.