Effects of heavy barbell hip thrust vs back squat on subsequent sprint performance in rugby players

The effects of resistance based post-activation performance enhancement on reaction time and change of direction in basketball players

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) intervention with 80% one repetition maximum (1RM) resistance on change of direction (COD) and reaction time (RT) in basketball players. This study sixteen male basketball players (mean age: 20.25 years, height: 1.88 m, weight: 80.75 kg, training age: 10.12 years) were included. For this study, participants attended 3 experimental sessions in the laboratory. Firstly, anthropometric measurements of the participants were taken, then RT and COD were familiarized respectively, and then 1RMs were determined. Then, the participants randomly completed the first and second sessions. In the first session, a 20-minute standard warm-up (Wup) was performed. After the participants rested passively for 3 minutes after the Wup, RT and COD tests were measured at 1-minute intervals, respectively. The results obtained were considered as the control condition. In the second session, participants rested passively for 3 minutes after performing the PAPE (80% of 1RM - 5 rep) protocol. After the rest period, participants performed RT and COD with a 1-minute interval, respectively. The data were analyzed separately for RT (visual, auditory, and mixed) and COD test results in terms of Wup and Wup+PAPE. At least 48 hours of rest was allowed between the first and second sessions to ensure that fatigue from the previous test session did not affect the results. Wilcoxon test results showed that PAPE significantly reduced visual RT (p < .005), mixed RT (p < 0.013), and COD (p < 0.001), but not auditory RT (p < 0.068). The findings showed that PAPE is an effective method to improve COD and RT performance in sports such as basketball, where success is achieved through fast-paced play.

The Acute Effects Of Hip Thrust and Glute Bridge Exercises With Different Loads on Sprint Performance and Horizontal Force-Velocity Profile in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Approach

This study examines the acute effects of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) with different loads (84% and 60% 1-RM) and exercises (hip thrust; HT and glute bridge; GB) on sprint performance (SP) and horizontal force-velocity (HF-V) profile components in adolescent male soccer players. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: hip thrust group (HTG; n = 13), glute bridge group (GBG; n = 13), and control group (CG; n = 14). Sprint tests at distances of 10, 20, and 30 m were conducted pre-PAPE and post-PAPE protocols with a 7 min rest period. HTG and GBG executed HT and GB exercises at 84% and 60% of their 1-RM loads. Hedge's g was computed to assess within-group (pre-PAPE vs. post-PAPE) comparisons (Within-ES) and between-group (post-PAPE protocols) comparisons (Between-ES). PAPE protocols at 84% and 60% 1-RM loads demonstrated moderate effects on F0rel, Pmaxrel, FVslope, and DRF and small effects on V0, RFmax, and S20m in both HTG and GBG. Conversely, the CG exhibited trivial effects across parameters. Compared to the HTG 84% 1-RM protocol, the GBG 84% 1-RM protocol showed small effects on V0 and S10m. The HTG 60% 1-RM protocol had a small effect on RFmax compared to both GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols. Both HTG and GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols demonstrated small effects on S30m compared to the CG. These findings suggest that GB exercises may offer a viable alternative to HT exercises for eliciting PAPE effects, particularly in enhancing SP and related mechanics in adolescent soccer players.

Acute responses to a potentiation warm-up protocol on sprint and change of direction in female football players: a randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the acute effect of exposure to a potentiation warm-up protocol compared to a usual warm-up program.

DESIGN

Randomized parallel control trial.

SETTING

Synthetic grass in the club's facilities (Portugal).

PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen female football players (age: 23.9 ± 3.9 years), were randomly allocated to a control (n = 8) and an experimental group (n = 9). To allocate the players, a table was computer-generated by a research team member with no involvement in the trial.

INTERVENTION

The control group performed their usual warm-up program, while the experimental group performed a potentiation warm-up protocol with jumps combined with sprints with change of direction.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

The players were tested pre- and post-intervention for a 40-m linear sprint and pre-planned change of direction using the T-test.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

An intention-to-treat analysis was performed, with all the participants originally randomized being involved. The normal distribution was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The assumption of sphericity was analyzed. Effect sizes were calculated using partial eta squared.

RESULTS

No significant pre-post differences in the T-test and in the 40-m sprint were detected for any group. However, in the T-test, large effect sizes in time increments were observed within the experimental (0.27 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.176) and control groups (0.06 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.176). Also, in the 40-m sprint, large effect sizes in time increments were observed within the experimental (0.05 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.251) and control groups (0.09 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.251).

CONCLUSIONS

The performance-enhancing ability of the potentiation method performed at warm-up was not verified when applied to female football players. Thus, the potentiation methods may not improve sprint and COD ability for this population. However, the lack of statistical significance may have been due to reduced statistical power, as three of four effects suggest acute performance impairment after a supposed potentiation-oriented warm-up. Nevertheless, the presence of a statistical type 2 error cannot be ruled out.

REGISTRATION NUMBER (RETROSPECTIVELY REGISTERED)

NCT06555185; Project URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06555185 .

Effects of direction specific exercise training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The similarity between movement patterns and force-vector specificity of training exercises and the target movement will likely result in the greatest transfer of the practiced skills and physical abilities to the intended sports skill performance. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate whether specific adaptations in athletic performance would be observed following direction specific exercise training.

Methodology

The literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE. Studies comparing acute (post-activation potentiation enhancement) and short-term (>2 weeks) effects of horizontally vs. vertically oriented resistance and plyometric training on athletic performance of recreationally active participants of either sex were included. The effect sizes were determined using a robust variance estimation random-effects model and were reported as Hedge's g.

Results

Twenty-two studies were included. For acute studies (n = 4), a small non-significant effect favoring horizontal training (HT) for sprint performance improvements (g = -0.19, p = 0.17) was evident. For short-term studies (n = 18), the results showed non-significant, small to large differences between HT and vertical training (VT) in pooled vertical and horizontal jump improvements (g = 0.06, p = 0.67), vertical (g = 0.21, p = 0.17) and horizontal jump (g = -0.15, p = 0.40), pooled vertical and horizontal maximal strength (g = 0.27, p = 0.42), horizontal (g = -0.83, p = 0.16) and vertical maximal strength (g = 0.78, p = 0.28), pooled short and medium distance sprint (g = -0.23, p = 0.16), short (g = -0.33 [-0.85, 0.19], p = 0.19) and medium (g = -0.12 [-0.37, 0.13], p = 0.28) distance sprint, and COD speed and maneuverability (g = -0.45, p = 0.26).

Conclusions

HT and VT were both equally effective in improving vertically and horizontally athletic performance, potentially refuting the theory of directional specificity of training on athletic performance outcomes.

Effects of Postactivation Potentiation enhacement on sprint and change-of-direction performance in athletes: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Training interventions like Resisted Sled Training, Complex Training, Plyometric training, and recently, Postactivation Potentiation Enhancement (PAPE) protocols are being employed by sportsmen for performance enhancement. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of the PAPE protocols and methods to integrate them into the training. The current systematic review aims to critically summarize the current evidence on PAPE protocols' effect on Sprint and Change of Direction (COD) performance in Athletes and study the influence of the Type of PAPE protocols, Recovery duration, Volumes, and loads of PAPE protocols.

METHODS

A systematic computerized literature search was performed from December 2020 to June 2022 on the databases: MEDLINE (assessed by PubMed), CENTRAL (Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials), PeDro, and Science direct. The major criteria for inclusion were Athletes (Population) who performed PAPE protocol as Intervention before Sprint and/or COD assessment tests. The studies were individually assessed for Risk of Bias using EPHPP (Effective Public Health Practice Project) Tool.

RESULTS

A total of sixteen studies were included. For Linear sprint, nine studies reported a significant PAPE effect whereas, six studies reported insignificant effects. Whereas, for COD performance, two studies reported insignificant results and one study reported significant CODS enhancements The recovery duration ranged from 15 s up to 16 min.

CONCLUSION

PAPE protocols can be incorporated provided the recovery duration is of Moderate duration (3-8mins) or Individualized durations, using multiple sets (2-6), moderate-high loads (>85% 1-RM), type of protocol is Barbell Hip Thrust, Plyometrics or Unilateral biomechanically similar exercises to Running.

Acute effects of eccentric overload training with different loading doses in male sprinters

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of two doses (Dose1 and Dose2,D1 and D2) of inertial Flywheel Eccentric Overload (FEOL), Eccentric Hook (EH), and High-intensity Half Squat (HHS) on muscle explosiveness in male sprinters.

Methods

Twenty-one sub-elite male sprinters were randomly assigned to three groups: the FEOL group (n=7), the EH group (n=7), and the HSS group (n=7),Measurements of athletes' explosive jumps (CMJ, SJ, SLJ) heights, relative peak power indices, and 30-m sprint times were collected before and 6 min after the intervention.

Results

At D1 loading dose, CMJ, SJ jump height, and relative peak power increased significantly (p < 0.05) after HHS training intervention, while there was no significant change in FEOL and EH training (p > 0.05). At D2 loading dose, CMJ, SJ jump height, and relative peak power increased significantly (p < 0.01) after FEOL and EH training intervention, but at D2HHS intervention, these indexes tended to decrease (p < 0.05). None of the three training protocols significantly improved SLJ performance (p > 0.05). CMJ vertical jump height and relative peak power were significantly higher after D2FEOL and D2EH interventions than after D1HHS (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

D1HHS, D2FEOL and D2EH3 intervention methods can all improve the performance of sub-elite athletes in the 30-m test, CMJ test and SJ test. in the CMJ test, FEOL training demonstrated a higher acute augmentation effect compared to EH training.

The Effect of Post-Activation Potentiation Enhancement Alone or in Combination with Caffeine on Anaerobic Performance in Boxers: A Double-Blind, Randomized Crossover Study

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a physiological phenomenon that refers to an acute excitation of the neuromuscular system following intense exercise that ends in enhanced physical performance in a subsequent bout of exercise. The scientific literature has primarily examined the effectiveness of PAPE alone or combined with caffeine (CAF) intake in all-out tests lasting ≤10 s, as the effect of PAPE is transitory. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a protocol to induce PAPE alone or in combination with caffeine intake on the 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test in highly trained boxers. Twenty-five male and highly trained boxers (mean age: 20 ± 1 years) participated in a double-blind, randomized crossover study consisting of three different experimental conditions: (i) control (CON), with no substance intake and no PAPE protocol before the Wingate Anaerobic Test; (ii) PAPE + PLA, involving the intake of a placebo 60 min before and a PAPE protocol comprising a 10 s cycling sprint overloaded with 8.5% of the participants' body weight 10 min before the Wingate Anaerobic Test; and (iii) PAPE + CAF, involving the intake of 3 mg/kg of caffeine 60 min before and the same PAPE protocol used in the (ii) protocol before the Wingate Anaerobic Test. In all conditions, the participants performed the 30 s version of the Wingate Anaerobic Test with a load equivalent to 7.5% of their body weight, while the cycle ergometer setting was replicated. Immediately following the Wingate test, heart rate (HR), the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate concentration (Bla) were measured. In comparison to CON, PAPE + PLA enhanced mean power (p = 0.024; Effect size [ES] = 0.37) and total work (p = 0.022; ES = 0.38) during the Wingate test, accompanied by an increase in post-test blood lactate concentration (p < 0.01; ES = 0.83). In comparison to CON, PAPE + CAF enhanced mean power (p = 0.001; ES = 0.57), peak power (p = 0.013; ES = 0.57), total work (p = 0.001; ES = 0.53), post-test blood lactate concentration (p < 0.001; ES = 1.43) and participants' subjective perception of power (p = 0.041). There were no differences in any variable between PAPE + PLA and PAPE + CAF. In summary, a PAPE protocol that involves a 10 s all-out sprint 10 min before the Wingate Anaerobic Test was effective in enhancing Wingate mean power in highly trained boxers. The addition of 3 mg/kg of caffeine to the PAPE protocol produced an effect on mean power of a higher magnitude than PAPE alone, and it enhanced peak power along with participants' subjective perception of power. From a practical point of view, PAPE before exercise seems to be an effective approach for increasing Wingate performance in highly trained boxers, while the addition of caffeine can increase some benefits, especially peak power.

Impact of active intra-complex rest intervals on post-back squat versus hip thrust jumping potentiation

This study investigated the impact of active rest intervals within a lower body complex training session on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) response in amateur soccer players. Twelve soccer players took part in four different experimental conditions. These sessions included 2 sets of lower body complex-paired exercises, each involving 3 repetitions of either back squats or hip thrusts at 90% one-repetition maximum (1RM) as a conditioning activity paired with a broad jump and countermovement jump. Between those exercises in active intra-complex rest interval conditions, participants were performing 8 repetitions of bench press at 75%1RM or, in passive intra-complex rest interval conditions, rested while seated. A significant main effect of a set to increase broad jump length (p = 0.002), countermovement jump height (p = 0.002), and modified reactive strength index (p = 0.005) was revealed, without any significant differences between conditions. Post-hoc comparisons showed a significant increase in broad jump length from baseline to Set-2 (231 ± 13 vs. 234 ± 13 cm; p = 0.003; ES = 0.22). On the other hand, countermovement jump height and modified reactive strength index significantly increased from baseline to Set-1 (34.4 ± 3.6 vs. 35.6 ± 3.9 cm; p = 0.027; ES = 0.31 and 0.4 ± 0.05 vs. 0.45 ± 0.09; p = 0.005; ES = 0.66). Results of this study showed that to sustain a high training density, sports practitioners may incorporate upper body exercises within the intra-complex rest interval during lower limb complex training sessions and still elicit a significant PAPE effect.

Acute effects of blood flow restriction with whole-body vibration on sprint, muscle activation and metabolic accumulation in male sprinters

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the acute effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT), Whole-Body Vibration (WBV), and BFRT + WBV on the 20 m sprint, muscle activation, and metabolic accumulation in male sprinters.

Method: Sixteen male sprinters randomly performed BFRT, WBV, or BFRT + WBV interventions with 72 h intervals. Electromyography (EMG) signals were collected before and during interventions. Fingertip blood was taken before, immediately after, and 15 min after the intervention. 20 m sprint was performed before and 3 min after the intervention.

Results: 1) 0–10m and 0–20 m sprint performance were significantly improved after WBV and BFRT + WBV interventions (p &lt; 0.05), 0–20 m sprint performance was significantly improved after all three interventions (p &lt; 0.05), 2) After BFRT + WBV intervention, the EMG amplitude of the vastus lateralis and soleus were significantly improved. Greater increases in EMG activity of the tibialis anterior muscle (p &lt; 0.05)and blood lactate (p &lt; 0.05)were observed following BFRT intervention compared to BFRT + WBV intervention.

Conclusion: For sprint performance, BFRT and WBV had similar post-activation enhancement effects to BFRT + WBV, and the metabolic accumulation immediately following the BFRT were higher than that following BFRT + WBV in male sprinters.

Time Duration of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) in Elite Male Sprinters with Different Strength Levels

(1) Purpose: This study aimed to explore the time duration of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in elite male sprinters with different strength levels. (2) Methods: Thirteen elite male sprinters were divided into a strong group (relative strength: 1RM squat normalized by body mass of ≥2.5; n = 6) and a weak group (relative strength of <2.5; n = 7). All sprinters performed one static squat jump (SSJ) at baseline and 15 s, 3 min, 6 min, 9 min, and 12 min following an exercise protocol including three reps of a 90% 1RM back squat. Two force plates were used to determine the vertical jump height, the impulse output, and the power output for all SSJs. (3) Results: Significant improvements in vertical jump height and peak impulse were observed (p < 0.05) at 3, 6, and 9 min, without significant between-group differences. The peak power had a significant increase in 3 min (p < 0.01) and 6 min (p < 0.05), with also no significant difference between-group differences. Moreover, the stronger subjects induced a greater PAPE effect than the weaker counterparts at 3, 6, and 9 min after the intervention. The maximal benefit following the intervention occurred at 6 min and 3 min after the intervention in the stronger and weaker subjects, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The findings indicated that three reps of a 90% 1RM back squat augmented the subsequent explosive movement (SSJ) for 3−9 min in elite male sprinters, especially in stronger sprinters.

Motoric performance variation from morning to evening: 80% intensity post-activation potentiation protocol impacts performance and its diurnal amplitude in basketball players

Introduction

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) can be defined as the acute enhancement in muscle performance after preload stimulation that occurs during strength exercises or warm-up protocols, and the contractile history of any muscle group can directly influence the presented performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of motoric performance tests carried out at two different times of the day using three different PAP protocols.

Methods

Thirty-two male basketball players with at least 2 years of training experience and who competed at the national level were recruited for this study [age: 21.80 ± 1.91 years; body height: 178.40 ± 6.85 cm; body mass: 72.50 ± 7.16 kg; body mass index (BMI): 22.81 ± 2.28]. After control and experimental-specific warm-up (SWU) sessions, participants completed a countermovement jump (CMJ) and seated medicine ball throw (SMBT). The SWU protocol was developed based on the athlete's typical warm-up routine. The experimental warm-ups included the same exercises as the SWU, with one set of bench presses for five repetitions at 80% (80% PAP) and one repetition at 100% of 1 RM (100% PAP). Each of the protocols consists of 15 min. The SWU and experimental warm-up sessions were completed in a random, counterbalanced order, completed in a period of 3-weeks.

Results

According to the research findings, carrying out the protocols in the evening led to a larger improvement in SMBT than in the morning (F = 35.94, p < 0.001, η ² _p = 0.537). Additionally, the SMBT results were statistically more significant in the group that received 80% PAP compared to the SWU (p = 0.034), and the SMBT results were also higher in the group that received 100% PAP compared to the SWU (p = 0.002). Furthermore, the interaction effect (time × PAP) was statistically significant in SMBT (F = 6.39, p = 0.003, η ² _p = 0.17).

Discussion

These results may provide more particular recommendations than previously thought to basketball coaches for the planning of basketball-specific PAP exercises prior to the start of training programs.

Acute effects of ballistic versus heavy-resistance exercises on countermovement jump and rear-hand straight punch performance in amateur boxers

Background

Ballistic and heavy-resistance exercises may potentially enhance lower body power, which is paramount for the punching performance of amateur boxers. This study aimed to determine the acute effects of ballistic exercise (BE) and heavy-resistance exercise (HRE) on countermovement jump (CMJ) and rear-hand straight punch performance in amateur boxers.

Methods

Ten amateur boxers performed two conditioning exercises in a randomized and counterbalanced order as follows: squat jump with 4 sets × 8 repetitions at 30% one-repetition maximum (1RM) for BE and squat with 3 sets × 5 repetitions at 80% 1RM for HRE. The jump height (JH), relative maximal force (RMF), relative maximal power (RMP) of the CMJ, punch force (PF), and punch speed (PS) of a rear-hand straight punch were measured before and 3, 6, 9, and 12 min after either BE or HRE.

Results

No significant condition × time interaction was found for JH (p = 0.303), RMF (p = 0.875), RMP (p = 0.480), PF (p = 0.939), and PS (p = 0.939). In addition, no main effect of the condition for JH (p = 0.924), RMF (p = 0.750), RMP (p = 0.631), PF (p = 0.678), and PS (p = 0.712). A significant main effect of time was observed for PF (p = 0.001) and PS (p = 0.001), whereas JH (p = 0.081), RMF (p = 0.141), and RMP (p = 0.430) were not. Pairwise comparison identified that PF (p = 0.031) and PS (p = 0.005) significantly increased at 9 min compared with those at baseline.

Conclusions

The findings of this study demonstrated that BE and HRE protocols can potentiate the rear-hand straight punch performance at 9 min but bring less favorable improvements for JH, RMF, or RMP of CMJ.

The Post-Activation Potentiation Effects on Sprinting Abilities in Junior Tennis Players

Objective: This study aimed to compare the acute effects of a full squat (SQ) or hip thrust (HT) with two different loading intensities (60% and 85% 1 RM) on sprint ability in junior male tennis players. Methods: Nineteen tennis players were included in this research. They underwent four different experimental conditions: HT at 60% 1 RM, HT at 85% 1 RM, SQ at 60% 1 RM, or SQ at 85%. The force–velocity (F–V) profile was used to assess tennis players’ sprint acceleration ability before and after applying the conditioning stimulus. The variables registered were as follows: 5 m test (5 m), 10 m test (10 m), maximum theoretical force (F₀), maximum power (P_max), and the maximal ratio of horizontal-to-resultant force (RF_peak). Results: Significant improvements in 5 m, P_max, and RF_peak were observed when the conditioning stimulus was performing one set of seven reps of HT at 60% 1 RM. When the activation protocol was one set of seven reps of SQ at 60% 1 RM, significant improvements in 5 m, 10 m, F₀, P_max (N), and RF_peak were detected. Additionally, performing one set of three reps of SQ at 85% 1 RM as an activation protocol provided significant improvements in F₀. Conclusion: The use of HT and SQ with a load of 60% 1 RM improved the sprint F–V profile components related to the acceleration phase of the sprint in junior tennis players. Using intensity loads of 85% 1 RM is not adequate to increase acute sprint performance in this population. HT presents a higher transferability to sprinting in the first 5 m of sprinting, whereas SQ provides acute improvements in different sprinting phases.

Comparison of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) after isometric and isotonic exercise on vertical jump performance

PURPOSE

This study aimed to compare the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) induced by isometric and isotonic exercise on vertical jump performance.

METHODS

18 healthy trained men (25.8±2.7 years; 78.4±8.2 kg; 175.7±6.1 cm; 25.4±1.8 BMI; 126.72±10.8 kg squat 1-RM) volunteered for this study. They randomly performed two different PAPE protocols: Isotonic squats (ISOTS), which consisted of 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 75% of one-maximum repetition (1-RM); and isometric squats (ISOMS), which consisted of 2 sets of 4 seconds of submaximal (75% of 1-RM) isometric contraction at 90°-knee flexion. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height was tested at baseline and 4 minutes after each conditioning set.

RESULTS

CMJ height significantly increased after set 1 in both PAPE protocols (ISOMS: p <0.001; ES = 0.34; ISOTS: p <0.001; ES = 0.24), with respect to the baseline jump. However, after set 2 no significant changes in CMJ height were observed for any protocol (ISOMS: p = 0.162; ES = 0.11; ISOTS: p = 0.976; ES = 0.06). No significant differences (p>0.05) were found between both isometric and isotonic exercise conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite both protocols showed similar PAPE effects on CMJ height after set 1, none of the protocols demonstrated greater efficacy in increasing subsequent performance in healthy trained men.

Performance and reference data in the jump squat at different relative loads in elite sprinters, rugby players, and soccer players

The aims of this study were to compare the outcomes and provide reference data for a set of barbell mechanical parameters collected via a linear velocity transducer in 126 male sprinters (n = 62), rugby players (n = 32), and soccer players (n = 32). Bar-velocity, bar-force, and bar-power outputs were assessed in the jump-squat exercise with jump-squat height determined from bar-peak velocity. The test started at a load of 40% of the athletes’ body mass (BM), and a load of 10% of BM was gradually added until a clear decrement in the bar power was observed. Comparisons of bar variables among the three sports were performed using a one-way analysis of variance. Relative measures of bar velocity, force, and power, and jump-squat height were significantly higher in sprinters than in rugby (difference ranging between 5 and 35%) and soccer (difference ranging between 5 and 60%) players across all loads (40–110% of BM). Rugby players exhibited higher absolute bar-power (mean difference = 22%) and bar-force (mean difference = 16%) values than soccer players, but these differences no longer existed when the data were adjusted for BM (mean difference = 2.5%). Sprinters optimized their bar-power production at significantly greater relative loads (%BM) than rugby (mean difference = 22%) and soccer players (mean difference = 25%); nonetheless, all groups generated their maximum bar-power outputs at similar bar velocities. For the first time, we provided reference values for the jump-squat exercise for three different bar-velocity measures (i.e., mean, mean propulsive, and peak velocity) for sprinters, rugby players, and soccer players, over a wide range of relative loads. Practitioners can use these reference values to monitor their athletes and compare them with top-level sprinters and team-sport players.