Isokinetic bench press as a criterion measure of upper body power in NCAA Division I college football player starters and non-starters

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the isokinetic bench press could discriminate football-playing ability and to correlate the isokinetic bench press with other commonly used football upper and lower body power tests. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate football players aged 18-26 years were divided into two groups by player ability: starters (Group 2) and non-starters (Group 1). On separate days, subjects performed the vertical jump, 40-yard dash, one-repetition maximum (RM) bench press and isokinetic bench press at 60, 180 and 300°/s. Pearson Correlation Coefficient analysis revealed significant correlations among all measures in the present study (height, weight, isokinetic peak force at 60°/s, 180°/s and 300°/s, vertical jump, 1-RM bench press and 40-yard dash). Height and weight negatively correlated with all measures, except the 40-yard dash, indicating that taller and/or heavier football players produced higher (slower) 40-yard dash times. Three 1 x 2 ANOVA's (p<0.05) were used to compare 40-yard dash times, vertical jump, and 1-RM bench press between starters and non-starters, respectively. Results indicated that 40-yard dash times of starters were significantly faster than non-starters, and no significant differences in vertical jump values and 1-RM bench press torque between starters and non-starters. Four x 2 ANOVA with repeated measures (p<0.05) analysis indicated that starters and non-starters produced significantly higher 1-RM bench press torque values than isokinetic bench press peak torque values at 60, 180, and 300°/s; higher isokinetic bench press peak torque values at 60°s/ than at 180 and 300°/s; and no significant difference between isokinetic bench press peak torque values at 180 and 300°/s. Three x 2 ANOVA with repeated measures (p<0.05) analysis indicated that football starters produced significantly higher isokinetic bench press peak torque values at 60°/s than nonstarters. Conclusion: isokinetic bench press can be used as an upper body power test to discriminate between starters and non-starters.