Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Open Access Thesis

Abstract

Title: Retrospective Analysis on the Impact of Increased Set Volume on back squat and bench press one repetition maximums in Freshman NCAA DI FCS American Football Players

Introduction: American football is the most popular sport in the United States. Over the past few decades, American football has experienced a notable transformation, with a growing emphasis on the necessity for increased strength and power gains. The evolving physical demands in American football underscore the importance of players adapting to these changing conditionings to thrive in the sport. With American football being a sport linked to physical attributes such as size and mass, it is important to seek out proper training methodologies that could help players achieve this physique.

Objective: This retrospective analysis aimed to determine whether increasing set volume will impact muscular strength adaptations of NCAA DI FCS American freshmen football players who were in their first year of organized training with the university’s strength and conditioning program.

Methods: Previously collected data of 68 NCAA DI FCS American freshmen football players (ACFFPs) were analyzed to compare the differences in one repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and back squat between two groups. One group, the additional setvolume (ASV) (n = 33) group had their set volume increased by 122 total sets of volume, by adding a second weightlifting session to two days per week and the second group (T) followed a traditional program (SSV group) (n = 35), weightlifting once per week over a four-week training mesocycle.

Results: Statistical analysis was conducting use IBM SPSS version 24, and a two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess change in 1RM. Equality of variance was assessed using Mauchly's test, which gives sphericity. Data is reported as mean ± standard deviation, with a significance level set to a probability value of less than .05. The findings suggest the ASV and SSV groups both increased their muscular strength for the 1RM back squats and bench press from pre- to post-testing. However, the ASV group increased their muscular strength to a greater degree compared to the SSV group.

Conclusion: While both groups enhanced their 1RM back squat and bench press regardless of the training regimen. The ASV groups saw a greater strength increase (P= <.05) of 16.99 lbs when compared to the SSV group in the bench press, along with the back squat, which had a strength increase (P= <.05) of 20 lbs. This study shows how additional set volume, split between two training sessions in one singular day, can be a beneficial way for strength coaches to increase muscular strength, while also utilizing the time they have with the athletes, in ACFFPs during a four-week mesocycle occurring in an offseason winter strength and conditioning program. Future researchers should explore the aspect of set volume and overtraining, as well as continued research into the realm of set volume and its role in creating enhanced strength.

Year of Submission

2024

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Kinesiology

First Advisor

Jacob Reed

Date Original

3-2024

Object Description

1 PDF (ix, 50 pages)

Language

en

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