Normative Reference Values for High School-Aged American Football Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Establishing reliable performance benchmarks is crucial for athlete development in American football.
• Existing data may not adequately represent the diverse skill sets and physical attributes of high school players across different positions and academic years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish test- and position-specific normative reference values for combine results.
• To provide a large, nationally representative dataset for high school American football players.
• To aid in performance evaluation and goal setting for young athletes.

Main Methods:

• Collected cross-sectional anthropometric and performance data from 7,478 high school American football players across 12 recruiting combines.
• Data included combine date, school state, position, class (freshman, sophomore, junior), height, body mass, 40-yard dash, pro-agility, 3-cone, vertical jump, broad jump, and power push-up.
• Generated normative values by aggregating data from freshman, sophomore, and junior classes, analyzed by position.

Main Results:

• Significant mean differences in performance measurements were observed among freshman, sophomore, and junior classes for most positions (p ≤ 0.05).
• Performance differences were more pronounced between freshman and sophomore classes compared to sophomore and junior classes.
• Normative values were generated for various positions, including defensive back, linebacker, and wide receiver, among others.

Conclusions:

• The generated normative reference values offer realistic performance comparisons for young American football players, parents, and coaches.
• Strength and conditioning professionals can utilize these norms to establish attainable goals and recognize achievements for high school athletes.
• This data supports informed athlete development and collegiate recruitment pathways.