title: Comparison between different off-season resistance training programs in Division III American college football players.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of periodization and to compare different periodization models in resistance trained American football players. Fifty-one experienced resistance trained American football players of an NCAA Division III football team (after 10 weeks of active rest) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups that differed only in the manipulation of the intensity and volume of training during a 15-week offseason resistance training program. Group 1 participated in a nonperiodized (NP) training program, group 2 participated in a traditional periodized linear (PL) training program, and group 3 participated in a planned nonlinear periodized (PNL) training program. Strength and power testing occurred before training (PRE), after 7 weeks of training (MID), and at the end of the training program (POST). Significant increases in maximal (1-repetition maximum [1RM]) squat, 1RM bench press, and vertical jump were observed from PRE to MID for all groups; these increases were still significantly greater at POST; however, no MID to POST changes were seen. Significant PRE to POST improvements in the medicine ball throw (MBT) were seen for PL group only. The results do not provide a clear indication as to the most effective training program for strength and power enhancements in already trained football players. Interestingly, recovery of training-related performances was achieved after only 7 weeks of training, yet further gains were not observed. These data indicate that longer periods of training may be needed after a long-term active recovery period and that active recovery may need to be dramatically shortened to better optimize strength and power in previously trained football players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey, USA. hoffmanj@tcnj.edu
authors.forename: Jay R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ratamess
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klatt
authors.forename: Avery D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Faigenbaum
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tranchina
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: McCurley
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult