The counter-movement jump (CMJ) is frequently utilized by strength and conditioning professionals working with athletes, given its relationship to a multitude of performance variables associated with success in sports.
Purpose: To examine characteristics of CMJ performance between NAIA and NCAA Division I male and female athletes.
Methods: Archival data for 275 student athletes from two NCAA Division 1 universities (NCAA DI; males = 84, females = 74) and one NAIA university (NAIA; males = 66, females = 51) were utilized for this analysis. The CMJ was performed utilizing a dual single axis (Pasco PS 2141 plates, sampling rate 1000hz unfiltered) force platform system. A 2 × 2 multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine whether significant differences in the three dependent variables of VJ height (cm), concentric RPD-100ms, and peak power existed between athletes at different playing levels.
Results: A MANOVA revealed significant differences based on sex and competition level in the dependent variables measured (Wilk's Lambda = 0.908, F(3,259) = 8.732, p < .001, partial η2 = .092).
Discussion: The findings of this study revealed that females at the Division I level achieved significantly greater jump heights, peak power and concentric RPD-100ms compared to females at the NAIA level. Division I males displayed significantly higher peak power than their NAIA counterparts.
Keywords: Counter-movement jump (CMJ); NAIA; NCAA.