Data Testing with Solent University

Over the winter Katy & Tim Odell requested some funding from the SAC committee to work with Solent University to use their extensive testing facilities to help improve the athletes in their group.
The committee agreed this was a great use of club funds, helping both coaches and athletes, as well as continuing to grow our relationship with Solent University.

Here is Katy’s report:

Ten SAC athletes from the Senior Sprints and Hurdles Group signed up for 3 sessions over the course of 6 months of winter training with Rob Burge, Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach at Solent University

I had contacted Rob and agreed what tests the athletes would be measured on.  I was keen to explore what the data would inform me that in turn would give better athlete outcomes for the 2023 track season.  Dual Force Plate Analysis was chosen as I wanted to reduce the ground contact time for the sprinters as well as look at force at max velocity.

The first session was held on the 9^{th of} November 2022.  This was a little later than I wanted but it gave the athletes and I a starting point in which to move forward.

Athletes warmed up and then had 3 tests – one around ankle stiffness (Reactive Strength Index), a Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) and an Isometric Squat.

The Reactive Strength Index identifies an individuals ability to rapidly produce force to go from a braking motion to accelerating motion.  This assesses the elastic energy of the tendon and stretch reflex response ground contact times.

The CMJ is a vertical jump test, explosive in nature, performed to determine lower body force output, deceleration and acceleration force and lower limb symmetry.

The Isometric Squat is a reliable test that can differentiate between the strength ability of the athletes and used to track progress in strength development over time – this assesses an athlete’s maximal strength.

Rob sent a summary of results to me as well as individual testing sheets for the athletes.  I found the summary helpful as I then grouped athletes 

into Ballistic/Mixed training; Maximal Strength or Concurrent/Mixed training.

There wasn’t much opportunity to put many changes into practice following the first testing session other than look at Maximal Strength (weight training).  This was due to the timing of the report and then the Christmas holidays.  

One athlete didn’t do weight training outside of group training sessions; 1 athlete had just started machine weights as their first introduction to weight training whilst 1 other attended the gym for various exercises; 7 athletes did free weights but as these were not sessions Tim and I coached we only advised what exercises they should be working on so as to remain explosive to sprinting and working the right muscle chain.  

Following the report, I produced laminated cards for each athlete with various exercises for them to work on once a week during our training sessions at Cantell.

Second Test – January 2023

Athletes were better prepared for the testing session (as the same tests were carried out).  I felt that the true reflection of results would be between the second and third tests.  Rob agreed that there wouldn’t be a huge difference of results (between November and January) but would give a better picture as they would had have prior knowledge of what to expect.

One athlete had declared a sore heel but was able to continue with the testing.

As anticipated, the reports showed there wasn’t huge differentials in data, and that what was identified in the first report remained the areas to work on.  I then produced another set of laminated cards for each athlete with variations of similar exercises as before to work on each week until the third testing session.  This meant that training didn’t get stale and offered the same muscle chain movements.

One area that did get mentioned on a number of athlete reports was fatigue.  This I noted and ensured the training session prior to the third testing was lighter on the legs and those that did weight training on Tuesday’s also did a lighter session so that recovery enabled the best data outcome. 

I also explored with Rob Burge how the group could use Solent University’s facilities as an option to work together as a group rather than individually.  Rob responded offering sessions but after consideration Tim and I felt that, although tempting, the timing wasn’t ideal and really should be at the beginning of the programme when areas to develop were identified and could be continually worked on.

Third Test – March 2023

All, bar one, were present for the last testing session.  Unfortunately, the heel injury had persisted and the athlete was not able to attend.  Another athlete declared they had a sore hamstring.

The training session prior to the testing was lighter to avoid fatigued results. Athletes had some familiarity with the process and responded well to the cues “as fast as you can” and “as hard as you can”.

Reactive Strength Index:

“A large magnitude of change,” “large positive worthwhile changes”, “definite positive improvement”, as well as “a positive small worthwhile change” were observed by Rob.

Counter Movement Jump:

“Definitive, large positive worthwhile changes”, “large magnitude of change” and “all CMJ metrics have predominantly remained unchanged” were reported.

Isometric Squat:

“Net and relative peak force, and all RFD time intervals indicated definitive, large positive worthwhile changes across Test 1 to Test 2/Test3 assessments”.  

“Test 1 and Test 3 were too great to use for analysis; only Test 2 CV are within acceptable limits and therefore CV are based on changes between Test 2 to Test 3 only”.

“Net peak force has had a definite improvement”.

“Large magnitude of changes from Test 1 to Test 2 and Test 3 independently”.

Summary

Did the testing deliver the goals set?

Yes – I was able to change drills/exercises for athletes which did have an impact in results for Test 3.  Athletes have a forward plan to enable continued progress.

Would I do again?

Yes – though I would tweak the programme to have a gym session as a group after each test to work on what needed improving.  Give them the tools to go away having done exercises so they can do themselves in their gym sessions.  This was very independent for athletes to work on which the majority grabbed the information and worked on outside of group training, a few didn’t and could of done with the extra support.

Thank you Southampton AC and Rob Burge at Solent University.  This was a great opportunity and all enjoyed the experience.  Rob is a fountain of knowledge which I and the athletes happily tapped into; though I suspect we only scratched the surface.

Katy Odell