The Relationship Between Multidirectional Jumping and Performance in Change of Direction Tasks

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Change of direction (COD) ability is crucial for athletic performance.
• Multidirectional jump (MDJ) tests are increasingly used to assess athletic capabilities.
• Understanding the relationship between MDJ and COD performance is essential for training and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the test-retest reliability of specific COD and MDJ tests.
• To determine if MDJ performance can predict COD performance.
• To evaluate the usefulness of these tests for detecting meaningful changes in performance.

Main Methods:

• Twenty male athletes performed two sessions of COD (180° and 45°) and MDJ tests, separated by seven days.
• Measurements included approach time, exit time, total time for COD, and approach time and distance for MDJ.
• Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficients of variation (CVs); predictive ability was examined using correlation analyses.

Main Results:

• Most COD total times and MDJ distances demonstrated high reliability (ICC = 0.87–0.99) with low variability.
• MDJ distances significantly predicted COD performance, particularly for same-leg movements (r = 0.50–0.71).
• All tested measurements proved useful in detecting the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) in performance.

Conclusions:

• COD tests and MDJ distances are reliable for assessing and monitoring COD performance in similar athletic populations.
• MDJ tests, specifically jump distances, show potential as predictors of COD performance.
• These reliable measures can inform training programs and athlete monitoring strategies.