Erin Gilreath

An examination of preactivity and postactivity stretching practices of NCAA division I, NCAA division II, and NCAA division III track and field throws programs.

Abstract Judge, LW, Bellar, DM, Gilreath, EL, Petersen JC, Craig, BW, Popp, JK, Hindawi, OS, and Simon, LS. An examination of preactivity and postactivity stretching practices of NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III track and field throws programs. J Strength Cond Res 27(10): 2691–2699, 2013—The purpose of this study is to determine the pre- and postactivity stretching practices of Division I, II, and III track and field throws programs. A 33-item survey instrument was developed to collect data regarding the warm-up and flexibility practices at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (n = 320), Division II (n = 175), and Division III (n = 275) universities. A total of 135 surveys were completed for a 17.5% return rate, and although the response rate was generally low, it did mirror the distribution percentages of the 3 divisions. Significant differences were found for the level of United States Track and Field (USATF) certification and the use of static stretching (SS) between throws (&khgr;2 = 6.333, p = 0.048). Significance was also found for the USATF certification level and athletic trainer (AT) assistance in performing SS (&khgr;2 = 13.598, p = 0.01). Significant differences were also found for the NCAA division levels and the use of soft tissue mobilization (&khgr;2 = 5.913, p = 0.026). Although research supports dynamic warm-up/stretching over other forms of preactivity protocols, it seems that some track-and-field throws coaches are reluctant to completely discontinue preactivity SS. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary for track and field throws coaches to reevaluate their own practices, perhaps better aligning them with current research findings.

Relationship of squat one repetition maximum to weight throw performance among elite and collegiate athletes

Weight room 1 repetition maximums (1RM) have been shown to be associated with performance in the throwing events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the primary variables that contributed to maximum throwing distance in the indoor weight throw event in track and field. A survey instrument was developed to collect data regarding national level collegiate weight throwers in the United States. Bivariate correlations for weight throw personal best and squat 1RM revealed significant correlations for both the male (r=0.642, p<0.001) and female participants (r=0.799, p<0.001). The height of the female athletes was also significantly correlated to weight throw personal best (r=0.710, p<0.001); however, height was not significantly correlated to personal best among male participants (r=0.173, p=0.361). Furthermore, the results may provide some insight into the obstacles and barriers limiting the development of US weight throwers.

The current state of NCAA Division I collegiate strength facilities: size, equipment, budget, staffing, and football status.

Abstract Judge, LW, Petersen, JC, Bellar, DM, Craig, BW, Cottingham, MP, and Gilreath, EL. The current state of NCAA Division I collegiate strength facilities: Size, equipment, budget, staffing, and football status. J Strength Cond Res 28(8): 2253–2261, 2014—Strength and conditioning training programs are essential components of athletic performance, and the effectiveness of these programs can be linked to the strength and conditioning facilities (SCFs) used by athletes. The primary purpose of this study was to provide a statistical overview of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I SCFs, equipment and maintenance budget, and the relationship between SCF budget and staffing space, and equipment. The secondary purpose was to note differences in SCFs between those schools with and without football programs. An 84-item online survey instrument, developed with expert input from certified strength professionals, was used to collect data regarding the SCFs in NCAA Division I universities. A total of 110 valid and complete surveys were returned for a response rate of 38.6%. Results of Pearsons &khgr;2 analysis demonstrated that the larger reported annual equipment budgets were associated with larger SCFs (&khgr;2 = 451.4, p ⩽ 0.001), greater maximum safe capacity of athletes using the facility (&khgr;2 = 366.9, p ⩽ 0.001), increased numbers of full-time coaches (&khgr;2 = 224.2, p ⩽ 0.001), and increased number of graduate assistant or intern coaches (&khgr;2 = 102.9, p ⩽ 0.001). Based on these data, it can be suggested to athletic administrators and strength and conditioning professionals at the collegiate level that budgets need to be re-evaluated as the number of personnel available to monitor student-athletes and the size and safe capacity of the facility are related to the ability of the strength and conditioning staff to safely and adequately perform their duties.

Using Sport Science to Improve Coaching: A Case Study of the American Record Holder in the Women's Hammer Throw

Conclusions from biomechanical data can make a significant difference in the performance of athletes in the hammer throw if properly understood by coaches. By utilizing this scientific approach to the hammer throw event, the throws coach will be able to determine more accurate adjustments and devise training stimuli to better accommodate the athlete. In this case study, we have attempted to bridge the gap between the researcher and the coach in our approach to teaching the hammer throw, by integrating biomechanical analysis. We have employed the use of video analysis as an essential part of our coaching/teaching system. This USATF Womens development hammer project is an example in which the cooperation between sport science and coaching helped to produce an American record of 73.87m by Erin Gilreath in the womens hammer in 2005.

CSCS certification and school enrollment impacts upon high school strength facilities, equipment, and safety.

Abstract Judge, LW, Petersen, JC, Bellar, DM, Craig, BW, and Gilreath, EL. CSCS certification and school enrollment impacts upon high school strength facilities, equipment, and safety. J Strength Cond Res 27(9): 2626–2633, 2013—The rapid growth and expanding use of high school strength and conditioning facilities (SCFs) creates a need to research and better understand these vital facilities. This study was designed to examine SCFs at the high school level including facility size, equipment, leadership/staffing, and safety. A 70-item online survey instrument, developed with expert input from certified strength professionals, was used to collect data regarding the SCFs in high schools throughout a midwestern state, and was distributed via email to a total of 390 high school athletic directors. Survey respondents (n = 108) all reported the presence of SCFs with 95.4% indicating a dedicated SCF space. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.610, p ⩽ 0.001) was determined between the variables of SCF size in square feet and school size measured by total enrollment. Analysis of variance and &khgr;2 analyses revealed significant differences in equipment, facility size, and safety factors based on the categorical variables of school size and the presence of certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) leadership. It appears the CSCSs application of their scientific knowledge goes beyond training athletes for the goal of improving athletic performance to actually influence the SCF itself. Athletic administrators at the high school level need to recognize the impact CSCS program leadership can have on the overall quality of the strength and conditioning program and facility.

Olympic Games Evolution: An Analysis of Personal and Public Awareness of the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games

The Olympic Games have become one of the world’s largest and most popular sporting events with over 203 countries participating in the games held every two years. The Olympic Games have a profound and rich history. The ancient Olympic Games trace their beginning back to the mythic date 776 BC as a Greek religious festival held every four years in honor of their supreme god, Zeus. Restricted to men, the ancient Olympics were held for nearly 1200 years until their demise in late antiquity about 400 AD (Howell & Howell, 1988).

The Use of Post Activation Potentiation (PAP) to Improve Athletic Strength

A well-designed pre-activity warm-up will bring about various physiological changes that will enhance the training activity or competition. Time restraints for training sessions are often a reality for coaches necessitating alternative pre-activity preparation methods. Recent research indicates that alternative warm-up methods have the ability to bolster an athlete’s strength/power potential. Post Activation Potentiation (PAP) is the contractile history of a muscle which influences the mechanical performance of subsequent muscle contractions. Fatiguing muscle contractions impair muscle performance; whereas, non-fatiguing muscle contractions, typically at high loads of brief duration, may enhance muscle performance (Stone, Sands, Pierce, Ramsey, & Haff, 2008). Thus, PAP is the increase in muscle force and rate of force development that occurs as a result of previous activation of the muscle. The proposed mechanism for PAP is the phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chains, which renders actin-myosin more sensitive to Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum during subsequent muscle contractions (Grange, Cory, Vandenboom, & Houston, 1995; Sweeney, Bowman, & Stull, 1993; Vandenboom, Grange, & Houston, 1995). The purpose of this abstract is to discuss this valuable pre-activity preparation technique.