Paul B. Gastin

Stevens, LJ, Carey, DL, Gastin, PB, and James, LP. Validity and reliability of a 3-point load-velocity profile for predicting hex bar deadlift 1 repetition maximum. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—This study assessed the between-session reliability of load-velocity–derived parameters in the hex bar deadlift using a 3-point method and velocity-based load prescription and determined the validity of a predictive 1RM model based on these parameters relative to actual 1RM testing. Nineteen resistance-trained subjects completed 2 testing sessions consisting of a traditional 1RM test and a submaximal 3-load load-velocity assessment using the hex bar deadlift. Between-session reliability of measures derived from the load-velocity profile and 1RM testing were evaluated using coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A linear mixed-effects model was used to predict 1RM from theoretical maximal load (L ₀ ) and theoretical maximum velocity (V ₀ ) derived from individual load-velocity profiles. Bland-Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement were used to assess the level of agreement between methods. Between sessions, L ₀ showed excellent reliability (CV = 5.2%, ICC = 0.97), while V ₀ was generally less reliable (CV = 6.0%, ICC = 0.70). The predictive model explained nearly all variance in actual 1RM (marginal R ² = 0.975), with both L ₀ and V ₀ contributing significantly ( p < 0.05). Predicted 1RM values were highly similar to actual 1RM values on average; however, the limits of agreement (±15.7 kg) suggest that the 2 methods are not directly interchangeable. Overall, the methodology used in this study provides a feasible alternative for assessing maximal strength, offering a less fatiguing and efficient option for athlete monitoring. However, due to individual variability, predicted 1RM values should not be used interchangeably with direct 1RM testing.

Purpose : The aim of this study was to examine how practitioners currently quantify resistance training (RT), evaluate the perceived effectiveness of popular quantification methods, and identify barriers to quantifying RT load. Methods : One hundred and fourteen practitioners (n = 114) who prescribe RT completed an international cross-sectional online survey between November 2023 and April 2024. The survey contained 41 questions, including open-ended, multiple-choice, and Likert-scale items. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to analyze quantitative data, and thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative responses. Results : Absolute volume load (82.5%) and session rating of perceived exertion load (77.2%) were the most common, whereas more complex methods like total work (12.3%) and system mass volume load (7.9%) were less commonly used. The most important variables identified by the practitioners were training frequency (75%), working sets (72%), and load (72%). Perceived efficacy of quantification methods was similar across experience groups; however, practitioners’ perceptions of maximum dynamic strength volume load was significantly different, with a small to moderate effect. Practitioners with more than 10 years of experience rated relative volume load (75%) and session rating of perceived exertion load (73%) the highest, whereas those with less experience preferred absolute volume load (76%) and session rating of perceived exertion load (76%). The main barriers to RT quantification were measurement/methodological problems (50.5%), athlete-related difficulties (26.3%), and logistical/practical limitations (23.2%). Time constraints (46.7%) were the most common reason against monitoring RT, whereas tracking adaptation/progression (41.1%) and informing periodization/planning (24.7%) were the main reasons for doing so. Conclusions : The methods used to quantify RT load varied widely, with a clear preference for practical approaches. These findings highlight the need for improved education and standardized, practitioner-friendly methods to bridge the research–practice gap.

This study synthesises the sports science literature from the Web of Science Core Collection to discern central research themes, influential academics, and institutions that have shaped the discipline. We applied quantitative metrics to systematically map 205,738 articles published from 1948 to 2023, revealing an 8.9% annual growth in publications, with the United States as the predominant publisher in the field by volume. Notably, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Portugal demonstrated high collaboration ratios. The analysis revealed the expanding scope of sports science, reflecting the field's evolution from reactive treatment paradigms to proactive enhancement methodologies. Utilising a semantic novelty metric on a focused subset of 6470 articles from 2010, this study examined the relationship between semantic novelty and citation impact, while investigating the moderating influence of research scope and team size. A strong positive relationship was found between novelty and the likelihood of a paper being highly cited (Odds Ratio [OR] = 4.08 CI [2.65, 6.28], p < 0.001). However, this effect was moderated by research context. The effect was significant only in ‘Focused’ papers (those with fewer references) and was greater in ‘Small Teams’ (≤4 authors). This analysis highlights the utility of bibliometric approaches not only for mapping a discipline's evolution, but also for uncovering the nuanced, context-dependent ways in which scientific novelty achieves impact. These findings carry practical implications for sports science and coaching researchers when considering team composition, research scope, and strategies to maximise the impact of innovative work.

Background: The capacity to generate energy during exercise is dependent on the bioenergetic pathways within muscle cells. These pathways include the phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative phosphorylation systems, which work together to resynthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and meet the energy demands of exercise. Understanding the relative contributions of these systems during maximal exercise has theoretical and practical importance for optimizing athletic performance and training. Objective: This study aimed to systematically review literature on the relative contributions of anaerobic and aerobic energy systems during single bouts of maximal exercise across various durations. The goal was to consolidate evidence from multiple methodologies to provide a more precise understanding of energy system interactions and inform both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in sports performance and training. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across seven electronic databases, including CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, covering studies from 1984 to January 2020. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed, English-language research that examined energy system contributions during maximal exercise in adults (≥ 18 years). Data extraction focused on participant details, exercise trial specifics, assessment methods, and relative energy system contributions. Studies were categorized on the basis of their assessment approach. Nonlinear regression modeling was used to estimate anaerobic and aerobic contributions across different exercise durations. Results: A total of 102 studies were included, providing 311 individual data points (mean results from studies comprising 78% male, 12% female, 11% mixed adult samples). The oxygen deficit (OD) method was used in 66 studies, mixed methods (MM) in 33 studies, and theoretical models (TM) in 7 studies. The data reviewed indicated that the anaerobic system predominates in short-duration maximal exercise, up until approximately 75–80 s. The maximal exercise duration that derived equal contributions from both the anaerobic and aerobic energy systems was 78.6 s (95% confidence interval [95% CI] ± 1.1 s), with longer durations contributing an increasingly greater proportion of aerobic energy to the total energy supply. Comparison of regression curves showed no differences between running and cycling or training status but revealed small significant effects of measurement method and pacing strategy. Conclusions: This review refines previous estimates of energy system contributions during maximal exercise, reaffirming the dynamic interplay between anaerobic and aerobic metabolism. The findings emphasize the importance of considering both energy systems in training strategies and highlight the need for more precise measurement techniques. Athletes and coaches can optimize performance by tailoring high-intensity training, work–rest ratios, and pacing strategies to improve anaerobic capacity, oxygen uptake efficiency, and short-term recovery.

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the differences in force–time characteristics of different incrementally loaded countermovement jumps (CMJs) and assessed their relationship to one-repetition maximum (1-RM) back squat performance. Methods: Nineteen resistance-trained males participated in this cross-sectional study, performing CMJs under six conditions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% body mass) followed by a 1-RM back squat. Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between discrete CMJ metrics (net concentric impulse, net concentric mean force, eccentric duration) with 1-RM values. Additionally, one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to evaluate the intact force–time curve between jump conditions. Results: The multiple regression models explained 53–66% of the variance in 1-RM squat performance, which was greatest under the 80% body mass condition. One-dimensional SPM analysis revealed significant differences in force–time curves across all loading conditions. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that metrics from a loaded CMJ explained up to 66% of variance in the 1-RM back squat, suggesting the two tests are independent measures of strength. Further, each loaded jump condition elicited unique force-time curves, suggesting that each load requires a different neuromuscular technique.

Gastin, PB. Defining the role of the high performance manager in professional team sport: Perceptions from HPMs in AFL football. J Strength Cond Res 40(3): e256–e263, 2026—The role of the high performance manager (HPM) has become increasingly vital in professional team sports, yet little is known about how this role is operationalized within specific sporting contexts. In the Australian Football League (AFL), every club now uses an HPM. This study aimed to examine the professional background, roles, and responsibilities of HPMs in the AFL, and to identify key themes that define their contributions to athlete performance and organizational success. Using a mixed-methods approach, 14 of the 18 AFL HPMs participated in an online survey and a semistructured interview. Quantitative data captured demographics, qualifications, work allocations, and responsibilities, while qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify role-specific themes. Subjects were highly experienced and qualified, with a mean of 17.9 years in high performance sport and 9.8 years in roles with management responsibilities. Seven key themes emerged: Athlete Development and Performance, Program Development and Execution, Standards and Expectations, Integration and Collaboration, Leadership and Management, Strategic Alignment, and Helping Others Succeed . Leadership and integration were considered central to their role. High performance managers in the AFL occupy senior leadership roles requiring a unique blend of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills. High performance managers predominantly managed physical preparation, recovery, rehabilitation, and nutrition services, with varying oversight of different aspects across other disciplines. Their work is crucial to aligning multidisciplinary support systems with strategic football objectives. These findings offer insights for the development of HPM roles in other professional sport settings.

This scoping review explores the concept of ‘sporting success’ by examining its diverse definitions and measures across Olympic Games sports and regions in contemporary research literature. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, MedLINE, and Scopus databases for articles published from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, using the query: (succe*) AND (sport* OR athlet* OR player*). A framework of sporting success definitions and measures was proposed based on thematic analyses of 434 articles, identifying five primary themes: ‘Placing’, ‘Performance Indicators’, ‘Opportunity Milestones’, ‘Accolades’, and ‘Career Capital’. ‘Placing’-related definitions and measures were most prevalent in research literature. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of sporting success, challenging the notion of universal definitions and questioning the validity of assumed conceptualisations within academic research – particularly as 135 articles failed to provide any explicit definition. The review offers valuable guidance for enhancing talent development research by advocating for greater precision in defining and measuring sporting success through the inclusion of contextual details – age category, sex, level of competition and specific nation – and optional application of arithmetic derivations. The proposed framework provides adaptable criteria for reporting study populations, guiding the selection of variables to be reported and complementing existing classification approaches. Furthermore, sporting organisations may benefit from recognising and addressing mismatches between success metrics and athletes’ aspirations, fostering compromise where needed.

Purpose : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of procedure, ranking method, and summarization method on between-sessions reliability and magnitude of force measures for the isometric midthigh pull. Methods : Thirty-two national- and international-level athletes performed short (∼1 s) and traditional (3–5 s) isometric midthigh pull protocols during consecutive weeks. Net force at peak (PF) and net force at 50, 100 (NF100), 150, and 200 milliseconds were collected. Trials were ranked using PF and NF100, and 4 summarization methods were applied: mean, mean of best 3, mean of best 2, and best trial. Reliability statistics were calculated for the resulting data combinations, and linear mixed models were used to assess differences between the most reliable conditions for each procedure. Results : For early force measures (≤200 milliseconds), the short procedure demonstrated superior reliability compared with traditional, specifically when trials were ranked on NF100 (traditional [mean]: intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .68–.82, coefficient of variation [CV] = 12.0%–16.0%; short [mean best 3, ranked on NF100]: ICC = .77–.91, CV = 8.2%–10.8%). For PF, all conditions exhibited good to excellent reliability (ICC = .89–.97, CV = 4.7%–7.4%), but it was slightly better with traditional procedures. All early force measures were significantly greater ( P < .001) using the short procedure, with mean differences of 15% to 28%. Conversely, PF was significantly lower ( P < .001) using the short procedure (−9% on average), although individual differences varied. Conclusions : Ideally, both traditional and short procedures would be implemented to comprehensively assess peak and early force-generating capacity. However, the short procedure offers a time-effective and reliable alternative to assess both capacities more efficiently.

This study investigates how competition participation during youth relates to dropout risk in competitive swimming, while also examining whether participation variables can predict key sporting success outcomes such as: (a) effective career length; (b) competitive activity between ages 20 and 26; (c) number of World Championships and Olympic Games appearances; and (d) highest status achieved at those meets (medallist, non-medallist or non-participant). Using data from 2154 swimmers ( F = 1197; M = 957) obtained from the World Aquatics database spanning 1980 to 2019, athletes aged 13 to 32 years were analysed. Dropout was defined as a consecutive four-year period without competition results following debut. A Cox proportional hazards model assessed the influence of debut age, medal success, race volume and engagement in multiple disciplines between ages 13–18 on dropout risk. Median time to dropout was 6 years for men and 5 years for women. Women were 1.47 times as likely as men to drop out. Athletes from Asia were more likely to drop out than athletes from Europe, Oceania and South America. Older debut age, youth medal success, higher total races with lower annual average, and greater discipline diversity were associated with lower dropout risk. For predicting sporting success outcomes, Random Forest and XGBoost machine learning models trained on a standardised set of predictors demonstrated predictive ability above chance, though their performance suggested that incorporating additional variables could enhance accuracy. Overall, findings support encouraging multi-discipline engagement and managing competition load during youth to reduce dropout risk.

Maximal strength of the lower body is important for many athletic tasks and demands. Lower body extensor strength, defined as maximal expressions of force in the vertical plane, can be measured in several different ways, using a wide range of tests and metrics. Although there have been investigations into the interrelationships between lower body strength and force measures, there is no known analysis or synthesis of these data that focuses on classifying variables into groups based on statistical similarity and/or distinction. This information is important to consider in an environment where many measurement options exist for diagnosing lower body characteristics. Understanding the overlap and distinction of these analysis methods and metrics will inform parsimonious, yet comprehensive, assessment of the lower body. It was therefore the purpose of this review to explore and summarize the commonality (i.e., r, R ² , component loading) between metrics from weightbearing, multi-joint lower body strength tests that are presented in the current literature, with the aim to group metrics into distinct domains of strength expression. The results of this review suggest that five unique domains of lower body extensor strength are present in athletes and trained populations: 1) reactive dynamic, 2) unloaded dynamic, 3) loaded dynamic, 4) early isometric, and 5) maximal isometric. Despite these findings, there are considerable limitations and gaps in the literature, and it is suggested that additional empirical investigations be conducted to better understand this concept of lower body strength domains.