title: A Comparison of Isometric Midthigh-Pull Strength, Vertical Jump, Sprint Speed, and Change-of-Direction Speed in Academy Netball Players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationships between maximal isometric strength, vertical jump (VJ), sprint speed, and change-of-direction speed (CoDS) in academy netball players and determine whether players who have high performance in isometric strength testing would demonstrate superior performance in VJ, sprint speed, and CoDS measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six young female netball players (age 16.1 ± 1.2 y, height 173.9 ± 5.7 cm, body mass 66.0 ± 7.2 kg) from a regional netball academy performed isometric midthigh pull (IMTP), squat jumps (SJs), countermovement jumps (CMJs), 10-m sprints, and CoDS (505).
  
  
  RESULTS
  IMTP measures displayed moderate to strong correlations with sprint and CoDS performance (r = -.41 to -.66). The VJs, which included SJs and CMJs, demonstrated strong correlations with 10-m sprint times (r = -.60 to -.65; P < .01) and CoDS (r = -.60 to -.71; P = .01). Stronger players displayed significantly faster sprint (ES = 1.1-1.2) and CoDS times (ES = 1.2-1.7) and greater VJ height (ES = 0.9-1.0) than weaker players.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study illustrate the importance of developing high levels of lower-body strength to enhance VJ, sprint, and CoDS performance in youth netball players, with stronger athletes demonstrating superior VJ, sprint, and CoDS performances.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comfort
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dos'Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: acceleration; dynamic performance; maximal isometric strength; short-sprint performance