How Pro Footballers Jump Higher and Faster Than Varsity Players

The Study

Football players, whether professional or varsity, need to jump a lot. But how do their bodies handle these jumps differently?

A recent study looked at how professional and varsity football players from Ecuador perform two types of jumps:

• Countermovement jumps with arm swing (CMJAS)
• Approach jumps (AJ)

Professional Players: The Pros

Male Players

• Better force production efficiency: Generated more force in less time, especially during the initial phases of the jump.
• Higher impact forces: Experienced greater impact forces during approach jumps.

Female Players

• Greater heights: Achieved higher jump heights.
• Higher RSI mod scores: Scored higher on the reactive strength index.

The Catch

• More proximal muscle activation: Professional players had better neuromuscular control.
• More asymmetries: Professional female players showed more asymmetries in muscle activation and joint range of motion, especially during approach jumps. This could make them more prone to injuries.

The Takeaway

Professional players have adapted their bodies to perform better in football-specific movements. However, these adaptations can also increase their risk of injury. Therefore, it's crucial to have a comprehensive biomechanical assessment to screen for injury risks and develop targeted strategies to reduce them.