Jeremy Moody

Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus

The current manuscript has been adapted from the official position statement of the UK Strength and Conditioning Association on youth resistance training. It has subsequently been reviewed and endorsed by leading professional organisations within the fields of sports medicine, exercise science and paediatrics. The authorship team for this article was selected from the fields of paediatric exercise science, paediatric medicine, physical education, strength and conditioning and sports medicine.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONDITIONING CONTRACTION ON UPPER BODY POSTACTIVATION POTENTIATION

Esformes, JI, Keenan, M, Moody, J, and Bampouras, TM. Effect of different types of conditioning contraction on upper body postactivation potentiation. J Strength Cond Res 25(X): 000-000, 2011-Muscle contractions preceding an activity can result in increased force generation (postactivation potentiation [PAP]). Although the type of muscular contractions could affect subsequent strength and power performance, little information exists on their effects. The purpose of this study was to examine PAP effects produced by isometric (ISO), concentric (CON), eccentric (ECC), or concentric-eccentric (DYN) conditioning contractions on upper body force and power performance. Ten male, competitive rugby players (mean ± SD: age 20.4 ± 0.8 years, height 177.0 ± 8.1 cm, body mass 90.2 ± 13.8 kg) performed a ballistic bench press throw (BBPT) followed by a 10-minute rest and one of the conditioning contractions. After a 12-minute rest, the subjects performed another BBPT (post-BBPT). The conditioning contractions, applied on separate days and in counterbalanced randomized order, were a 7-second isometric barbell bench press for ISO and 1 set of 3 bench press repetitions at 3 repetition maximum for CON, ECC, and DYN (each repetition lasting 2 seconds for CON and ECC, overall execution time <7 seconds for DYN). Peak power (Ppeak), peak force (Fpeak), maximum distance (Dmax) and rate of force development (RFD) were measured using a linear position transducer. Electromyography (EMG) of the pectoralis major and triceps brachii was also recorded. The ISO produced significantly higher Ppeak (587 ± 116 and 605 ± 126 W for pre- and post-BBPT, respectively; p < 0.05). No significant differences in Ppeak were revealed for CON, ECC, and DYN (p > 0.05), and no significant differences existed in Fpeak, Dmax, and RFD for ISO, CON, ECC, and DYN (p > 0.05). Finally, EMG was not significantly different between pre- and post-BBPT for any of the conditioning contractions (p > 0.05). Isometric contractions appear to be the only conditioning contractions increasing upper body power output after long resting periods.

Determinants of olympic fencing performance and implications for strength and conditioning training.

Fencing is one of only a few sports that have featured at every modern Olympic games. Despite this, there is still much the sport science team does not know regarding competition demands and athlete physical characteristics. This review aims to undertake an analysis of the current literature to identify what is known, and questions that must be answered to optimize athlete support in this context. In summary, fencing is an explosive sport requiring energy production predominately from anaerobic sources. Lunging and change-of-direction speed seem vital to performance, and strength and power qualities underpin this. In the elimination rounds, fencers are likely to accumulate high levels of blood lactate, and so high-intensity interval training is recommended to reduce the intolerance to and the accumulation of hydrogen ions. Injury data report the hamstrings as a muscle group that should be strengthened and address imbalances caused by continuous fencing in an asymmetrical stance.

Strength and conditioning for fencing

SUMMARY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTO FENCING IS SPARSE AND LITTLE RELATES TO STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING. IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITHIN FENCING, IT IS A PREDOMINATELY ANAEROBIC SPORT CHARACTERISED BY EXPLOSIVE HIGH-POWER MOVEMENTS. CONSEQUENTLY, FENCERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS OF SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS CURRENTLY USED SUCH AS LONG SLOW DISTANCE RUNNING BECAUSE THIS IS LIKELY TO BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO PERFORMANCE. INSTEAD, EXERCISES AND CONDITIONING DRILLS THAT DEVELOP REPEAT LUNGE ABILITY, STRENGTH, AND POWER SHOULD BE USED. THE HIGH PROPORTION OF LUNGING ALSO DICTATES THE NEED FOR ECCENTRIC STRENGTH AND CONTROL AND THE ABILITY TO REDUCE MUSCLE DAMAGE.

A Testing Battery for the Assessment of Fitness in Soccer Players

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH SOCCER TEAMS MUST BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER A TIME-EFFICIENT, VALID, AND RELIABLE FITNESS TEST, WITH HIGH CONTENT VALIDITY. BASED ON THESE CRITERIA AND THE RESEARCH HEREIN, THE FOLLOWING BATTERY IS ADVISED: ANTHROPOMETRY, SQUAT JUMP, COUNTER MOVEMENT JUMP, REACTIVE STRENGTH, 1 REPETITION MAXIMUM (1RM) POWER CLEAN, 1RM SQUAT, PRO-AGILITY, LINEAR SPEED, AND YO-YO INTERMITTENT RECOVERY TEST. THE RESULTS CAN GUIDE THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROFESSIONALS AND TECHNICAL COACHES IN PROGRAM DESIGN, LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT GOAL ACHIEVEMENT.

Long-Term Athletic Development and Its Application to Youth Weightlifting

SUMMARY CONSIDERABLE CONTROVERSY AND MISGUIDED INFORMATION HAS SURROUNDED THE INCLUSION OF WEIGHTLIFTING WITHIN YOUTH-BASED STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP STRENGTH, POWER, AND SPEED. THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT ITS INCLUSION AS A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MEANS TO ENHANCE ATHLETIC POTENTIAL. GUIDELINES ARE PRESENTED TO PROVIDE COACHES WITH A STRUCTURED AND LOGICAL PROGRESSION MODEL, WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS UNDERPINNING LONG-TERM ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT. IT IS HOPED THAT THIS REVIEW WILL SERVE AS A USEFUL TOOL TO HELP STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHES INTEGRATE WEIGHTLIFTING EXERCISES WITHIN TRAINING PROGRAMS OF YOUNG ATHLETES IN A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

Effects of Attentional Focus during Short-Term Drop-Jump Training on Strength, Jump and Sprint Performances in Hurling Players

Article published (open access) in Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine and Treatment in Sport on 21 June 2018 available at https://doi.org/10.19080/JPFMTS.2018.04.555642

Motor skill development in youths

Strength and Conditioning for Young Athletes offers an evidence-based introduction to the theory and practice of strength and conditioning for children and young athletes. Drawing upon leading up-to-date research in all aspects of fitness and movement skill development, the book adopts a holistic approach to training centred on the concept of long-term athletic development and the welfare of the young athlete.