Vertical Jump Versus Kinematic Sequencing: Advanced Technology Doesn't Always Enhance Appraisal

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Orlando, FL

Date of Presentation

6-1-2019

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000563328.34719.d6

Volume

51

Issue

6S

First Page

944

Abstract

In an age when science informs sport, new technology for athlete appraisal is often adopted before it is tested. Sparta kinematic sequencing (Sparta Science Corp.) is an instrument for player assessment that’s employment has outpaced its examination. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Sparta data in predicting basketball performance. METHODS: We analyzed 37 basketball players from a D1 collegiate basketball program over a 4-year period (2013-2014 through 2016-2017). Each player’s vertical jump (VJ) was measured and tested on a Sparta force plate, which provides 3 proprietary outputs: Load, Explode, and Drive. On average, each player was tested 24.9 ± 20.3 times; there were 922 total observations evenly distributed over the 4 years and over year in school. The Sparta outputs were used to predict on-court performance of each athlete during each season that the values were collected via multiple linear regression analyses. The dependent variables were in-game statistics per 40 minutes of court time: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and turnovers. RESULTS: Athletes played 19.3 ± 12.7 games per year. On average, they scored 12.8 ± 4.4 points, had 6.6 ± 2.7 rebounds, and turned the ball over 2.4 ± 1.0 times. Regression analyses found no significance with Load, Explode, or Drive in points per game, field goals per game, or assists per game. In each analysis all 3 Sparta outputs had negative associations that didn’t reach significance while VJ had a positive association that failed to reach significance. Load predicted rebounds per game (β=0.18; p<0.001) and blocked shots per game (β=0.03; p=0.021). Explode and Drive had non-significant negative relationships and VJ had a non-significant positive relationship. Explode (β=0.31; p=0.017) and Drive (β=0.304; p=0.011) predicted more turnovers per game, VJ predicted fewer (β=-0.982; p=0.020), and Load had a non-significant positive association. Without controlling for the full Sparta profile, Explode associated with fewer rebounds (p<0.001) and more turnovers (p=0.020); it had no association with improvements in performance. CONCLUSION: Athletic programs are often quick to incorporate new technology believing that it equates to improved player assessment. More analyses are required before simple jumping analyses can be displaced by sophisticated equipment.

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