Collegiate athletes’ current and prior experiences with resistance training programs: A comparison by sex

This study assessed male and female collegiate athletes’ current and previous resistance training (RT) experiences and explored athletes’ confidence levels regarding RT implementation. National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes were invited to participate in the anonymous survey consisting of 22 questions pertaining to demographics, sport participation, RT experiences and confidence levels. Response frequencies were assessed. Independent samples t-tests and χ2 analyses with Yates’ continuity correction were performed to assess sex differences (α=0.05). One hundred and thirty-seven athletes (52% women) were included in the analysis. Men reported sport participation at age 10 ± 5 years and women at age 8 ± 4 years. Men and women reported starting RT at age 15 ± 2 years, with no sex differences found (P > 0.05). No sex differences were found related to “confidence in ability to weight train on your own” (P > 0.05). 46.6% of women and 52.6% of men described being “very confident”. No sex differences were found related to “confidence in ability to design your own weight training program” (P > 0.05). 15.5% of women and 24.6% of men indicated they were “very confident”. When asked about barriers to starting RT, responses frequently included access to equipment and facilities, and lack of confidence and anxiety in gym settings. Addressing these issues may aid in increasing RT prescriptions for youth and collegiate athletes. Evaluating student athletes’ previous RT experiences may help to inform coaches of appropriate load progression to optimize performance. Youth athletes who begin organized sport at an early age should be encouraged to engage in RT with qualified personnel.