THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BILATERAL LIMB DEFICIT AND CHANGE OF DIRECTION AND LINEAR SPRINT IN DIVISION II MALE SOCCER PLAYERS

<p>Soccer requires endurance, strength, power, and repeated sprints, with lower limb force generation crucial for acceleration, deceleration, change of direction (COD), and linear sprinting (LS). The countermovement jump (CMJ) is commonly used to assess force production, and the bilateral limb deficit (BLD) quantifies the difference in force output between unilateral and bilateral CMJs. This study examined the relationship between BLD and COD and LS performance in Division II male soccer players. NCAA Division II male soccer players (n=19; 20.8 ± 1.51 years; 179.68 ± 7.36 cm; 75.2 ± 6.30 kg) participated in this study. Following a dynamic warm-up, participants completed unilateral and bilateral CMJs to measure BLD via peak propulsive force (Fz) and jump height (cm). They performed the 505 Agility Test with and 10m and 30m LS sprints on a turf field, best time was used. Pearson correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between BLD and LS 10m (1.75 ± 0.05s, r = 0.01, p = 0.702), 30m (4.21 ± 0.08s, r = 0.148, p = 0.570) or COD 505 right (2.52 ± 0.08s, r = -0.216, p = 0.405) and 505 left (2.53 ± 0.06s, r = -0.203, p = 0.434). While LS and COD tests are reliable soccer performance indicators, BLD was not a predictor of LS or COD performance in collegiate male soccer players. These results show soccer and strength coaches that while it is important to perform unilateral and bilateral exercises, BLD may not be something to focus on when thinking about soccer performance.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health and Human Performance

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Capello Real, Giuseppe

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lukus Klawitter

• Bilateral limb deficit
• Change of direction
• linear sprint
• unilateral and bilateral force production
• soccer performance

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/869

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1947