Relationship between vertical jump tests and ice-skating performance in junior Polish ice hockey players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between vertical jumps (VJ) and various on-ice skating performances of junior ice hockey players (n = 19). The three modes of VJ or off-ice measures were countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJ), squat jump (SJ) and depth drop jump (DDJ). The on-ice skating performance was measured by the skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT), forward and backward acceleration test, top speed test, and repeated sprint ability (RSA) test. The relationships between the variables were quantified using Pearson’s product-moment correlation. DDJ showed a significant positive correlation with forward average skating speed (FASS) (r = 0.62) and strong correlations with backward average skating speed (BASS) (r = 0.81), and maximum skating speed (MSS) (r = 0.71). SJ was found to be strongly correlated with BASS (r = 0.82) and MSS (r = 0.76), whereas the only on-ice performance that significantly correlated with CMJ was BASS (r = 0.68). All three modes of VJ were inversely and non-significantly correlated with performance decrement index and fatigue index, as determined by the RSA test. SMAT was not significantly correlated with either VJ or RSA. Correlations between all three modes of VJ tests were significant. Therefore, this study concludes that: (1) DDJ can be used as a predictor of all the ice skating speed tests, whereas SJ can predict BASS and MSS. CMJ, on the other hand, can predict the performance of only BASS. (2) RSA performance cannot be predicted from CMJ, SJ, or DDJ tests, and (3) neither any of the VJ nor RSA can predict skating endurance of junior ice hockey players.

Maximum Strength and Power as Determinants of Match Skating Performance in Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players

“…In line with data of this study, Laakso & Secomb (14) measured how athletes with better 10–20 m sprint performance were able to generate greater concentric relative force in the CMJ with a strategy that maximized power output in a shorter period of time (RSImod). These data underscore the requirement that to achieve maximum sprint speed in skating, an athlete must maximize the force applied to the ice surface in the time available and optimize their stride frequency at the same time (8,14). Reactive strength index is often not considered in ice hockey performance diagnostics.…”

“…The data from this study indicate that reactive strength is not performance determining on the ice surface in skating. However, because a study with Polish junior athletes showed large correlations between reactive strength and skating performance ( r 2 = 0.38–0.64) (8), it is clear that further research is warranted. Future research should aim to determine whether such relationships are causal.…”

Lower Limb Skeletal Robustness Determines the Change of Directional Speed Performance in Youth Ice Hockey

“…Vertical jumps (squat jumps, countermovement jumps, and free-arm countermovement jumps) were performed using the Optojump Next system (Microgate Italy, Bolzano, Italia). Jump height was calculated from the flight time, which has high reliability according to the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC > 0.92) ( Gupta et al, 2022 ). Each type of the jump was performed in two sets of three consecutive jumps separated by a 5-min rest interval, and the best jump height was used for statistical analyses.…”

“…The squat jump was performed from a starting position with 90° knee flexion held maximally for 2 s. During the squat jumps, participants were instructed to place their hands on their hips and bend at the knees, hips, and ankles. After participants stabilized in the starting position, the tester instructed them to jump as high as possible, keeping their hands on their hips and legs straight ( Gupta et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Factors influencing change of directional speed (COD) have been assessed in several sports disciplines, such as rugby ( Gabbett, 2006 ; Meir et al, 2001 ), soccer ( Maly et al, 2014 ; Sporis et al, 2010 ), and basketball ( Horicka and Simonek, 2019 ; Horníková and Zemková, 2022 ; Šeparović and Nuhanović, 2008 ); however, factors influencing COD in ice hockey have not been assessed. In ice hockey, COD studies ( Delisle-Houde et al, 2019 ; Gupta et al, 2022 ; Madden et al, 2019 ) have focused on the relationship between on-ice and off-ice scores ( Novák et al, 2019 ; Perez et al, 2021 ; Secomb et al, 2021 ; Wagner et al, 2021 ), performance levels ( Kokinda et al, 2012 ; Roczniok et al, 2016a ; Vigh-Larsen et al, 2021 ; Vigh-Larsen et al, 2020 ), or relationships between COD and match performance ( Daigle et al, 2022 ; Schwesig et al, 2021 ; Williams and Grau, 2020 ). Therefore, the structural basis of ice hockey COD, such as general off-ice conditions and anthropometric characteristics, remains unclear.…”