Hop & Stop Team Trend for Div. III Women's Soccer Team

Last week I had the opportunity to test a Division III Women's Soccer Team using the Hop & Stop. For those of you who are not familiar with this test it is the first field test I have found that quantifies an athlete's ability to:

1. Produce Force (Hop)


2. Absorb Force (Leap)


3. Evaluate any Asymmetries in both catagories

The test is also completely relative to the individual as the formula to for scoring is based on the individual's height. A asymmetry score of 0-5 is ideal and between 6-10 is okay. Any symmetry score greater than 10 is considered a red zone and that athlete is at much greater risk for injury in a non-contact situation. For more information check out the Lower Body Performance DVD.

Below are the results and team trends:

• 18 female college soccer players were tested


• Hop Test (force production)
  No statistical difference b/t right and left legs
  However, there was a percentage difference (L=78% R=73%)
  Team Avg= 76% so this is what the minimum should be for passing the screen for force production
  8 out of 18 players were in double digits for asymmetry


• Leap (force absorption)
  Extremely high statistical significance between both legs
  Onto L= 120 Onto R=107
  14 out of 18 players were in double digits and 3 of the 14 were above a score of 20 asymmetrically

Summary of Data

• Yet again these team results show the importance of addressing force absorption in a training and injury prevention program. There are a handful of players that are at great risk of suffering a non-contact lower extremity injury due to lack of symmetry in both force production and force absorption
  
• Including plyometrics such as 'hop and stick' or 'jump and stick ' under one second along with some basic force production exercises (lunges, step-ups, split squats) at the end of practice will help improve these test scores during the beginning of this season

I will be posting much more data here in the near future as well as some additional plug-in screens that I have included in use with the Hop & Stop Test.