An Examination of the Relationship Between Single Leg Jump and Balance Performance in Female Collegiate Basketball...

Zahn, D and Willardson, JM. An examination of the relationship between single leg jump and balance performance in female collegiate basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 39(6): 705-710, 2025-The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between different types of single leg jumps and components of the Y-Balance Test (YBT) in a convenience sample of female collegiate basketball players. Data collection involved assessment of players in the single leg vertical jump, single leg broad jump, and the YBT. These 3 tests were performed in random order and with the order of legs tested also randomized. Independent t-tests were conducted to assess symmetry in balance and jump performance between legs and Pearson correlations to assess relationships between tests (p ≤ 0.05). For all tests, there were no significant differences between legs, but multiple significant correlations were found between tests. Key findings included a significant (p = 0.046) and positive relationship (r = 0.584, r2 = 0.341) between the left leg vertical jump and YBT right leg posteromedial percent reach, while supported on the left leg, and reciprocally, a significant (p = 0.020) and positive relationship (r = 0.659, r2 = 0.434) between the right leg vertical jump and YBT left leg posteromedial percent reach, while supported on the right leg. Other key findings included significant and positive correlations between the right leg broad jump and right leg vertical jump (p = 0.034, r = 0.612, r2 = 0.375) and between the left leg broad jump and left leg vertical jump (p = 0.008, r = 0.719, r2 = 0.517). When considering that none of the players suffered a significant time-loss injury during the course of the season, the above results may suggest a benefit in seeking for symmetry in single leg vertical and broad jump and YBT performance as part of the strength and conditioning process. The mean values for the single leg vertical jump (left, 30.29 cm; right, 31.16 cm) and single leg broad jump (left, 168.60 cm; right, 163.85 cm) and the YBT percent reach values for the anterior (left, 67.17%; right 68.86%), posteromedial (left, 130.46%; right 128.23%), and posterolateral (left, 124.49%; right 127.35%) directions from the present study can be used by strength and conditioning coaches for comparative purposes in healthy samples of female collegiate basketball players.