Jump testing using electronic force plates has gained interest in sport and rehabilitation settings for evaluating performance and recovery across all levels, from youth to professional. While these devices produce extensive data on jump metrics, little information exists on how they relate to traditional sport performance measures used in athletic or therapy settings for youth athletes. PURPOSE: Examine the relationship between countermovement jump (CMJ) testing measures assessed via the VALD ForceDecks Lite® force plate system and common sport performance tests associated with lower extremity strength, power, agility, and injury risk in youth soccer athletes. METHODS: Seventy-four elite female soccer athletes (Age: 10±1yr) were recruited locally. Following consent, all athletes were subjected to a battery of traditional sport assessments performed in a randomized order: Pro-agility 20-yard shuttle test time, Y-balance test, knee flexion (hamstring) /extension (quadricep) strength testing via dynamometry, single leg hop distance, and single leg triple hop distance. All athletes also underwent CMJ testing on the ForceDecks Lite system, assessing force, power, rate of force development, limb asymmetry, and velocity for overall jump performance and for the eccentric, concentric, and landing phases. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between CMJ measures and traditional performance tests. Significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Several CMJ metrics were observed to be correlated with one or more of the traditional test measures (P<0.05). Concentric mean force (Avg. 736 ±97 N) was observed to be correlated with all traditional test measures: hamstring (r=0.506) and quadricep (r=0.458) strength (P<0.001). Concentric mean power (Avg. 888 ±151 W) and peak jump power (Avg. 1643 ±275 W) were observed to be correlated with hamstring (r=0.475, 0.441) and quadricep strength (r=0.450, 0.453), pro agility test (r=-0.346, -0.410), single leg (r=0.246, 0.253), and triple hop distance (r=0.252, 0.259) (P<0.05). Concentric RFD (Avg. 2508 ±1834 N/s) was found to be correlated with hamstring (r=0.329) and quadricep strength (r=0.334), and the pro agility test (r=-0.271) (P<0.05). Concentric peak velocity (Avg. 2.35 ±0.19 m/s) was observed to be correlated with the pro agility test (r=-0.570) as well (P<0.001). No correlation was observed between CMJ and Y-balance testing. CONCLUSION: In youth female soccer athletes, several traditional performance metrics commonly performed in sport and clinic settings correlate with CMJ force plate testing; particularly metrics associated with the concentric component of the CMJ. These findings may aid coaches, athletic trainers, and physical therapists to better understand how force plate testing may relate to performance parameters that they may be more familiar with. Given the identified associations and the rapid/mobile nature of on-site force plate testing, tests such as the CMJ may have specific advantages when frequent testing is desired for athlete monitoring.
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