Author(s): CASAL GARCÍA, N., LÓPEZ DEL AMO, J.L., Institution: INEFC, UNIVERSITAT DE LLEIDA, Country: SPAIN, Abstract-ID: 1633

INTRODUCTION:
Pole vault is a sport highly determined by run-up velocity, allowing maximal energy transfer to the pole (1). Vertical jump force plate-derived variables are associated with sprint performance (2). The horizontal force-velocity (FV) profile describes how athletes develop acceleration and velocity. This profile can be used to individualise and optimise sport training (3). The aim of this study was to explore relationships between CMJ, FV profile, sprint performance and personal best (PB) in pole vaulters, and to investigate sex differences.
METHODS:
Twenty-four pole vaulters with a minimum of two years of experience (11 women and 13 men), aged 15.61±2.65 years, body mass 56.98±10.95 kg, participated in the study. PB was 3.10±0.39 m and 3.70±0.57 m for women and men, respectively. All data were measured in the same session before the competitive period. Participants performed three CMJs after familiarisation on a CCAthletics force platform. Afterwards, they performed two trials of a 30 m sprint using a Racenanalyzer (Chronojump, Boscosystem).
For the CMJ, participants were instructed to jump as high as possible after a period of stabilisation, during which body weight was measured. For the 30 m run, participants were instructed to run as fast as possible, and the FV profile was calculated using Chronojump software (v2.5.2) following the method described in (4). The best CMJ (jump height measured by impulse) and best 30 m time were analysed using JASP (v0.95.4, University of Amsterdam). Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were performed between CMJ variables, FV profile key variables and participant's PB.
RESULTS:
Multiple CMJ-derived force and power variables showed moderate to very large correlations with PB in the male sample (r=0.72–0.92), whereas no significant relationships were found in the female sample. Sprint split times (10 m, 20 m and 30 m) showed stronger associations with PB in males compared with females. V0 and Vmax variables of the FV profile were also correlated with multiple CMJ-derived variables, particularly in the male sample.
CONCLUSION:
CMJ force plate-derived variables and FV profile are useful tools for assessing performance and monitoring training adaptation in pole vaulters as previously reported in the literature for sprinters (1,3). However, male and female athletes should be analysed separately. In males, velocity and power appear to be key determinants of performance, whereas this was not observed in the female sample. These findings suggest that performance improvement in female athletes may depend on additional factors not captured by CMJ or FV profile assessments. Further research across different performance levels and age groups is required to determine the main performance determinants and to optimise training monitoring strategies for coaches.
1.Gross et al. J Strength Cond Res 2020.
2.Loturco et al. Sports 2018.
3.Morin & Samozino. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2015.
4.Samozino et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013.