University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Poster Gallery
Preview
Creation Date
Spring 3-28-2017
Major
Fitness and Wellness Managment
Department
Exercise and Sport Science
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Michael T. Lane
Mentor Department
Exercise and Sport Science
Abstract
Coaches can often put too much baring on body composition of athletes in relation to sport performance. Currently, there is little data examining relationships in sport performance and body composition measures in collegiate softball players. Purpose: This study examined the relationships between body composition and athlete performance metrics from a single season in collegiate softball. Methods: Female student athletes from a Division 1, collegiate softball team grouped via player position (n=16, Body Fat% 26.5 ± 3.98, body weight 75.49 ± 8.69 kg, lean body mass 55.87 ± 4.08 kg.) were analyzed for body composition using a Bod Pod air displacement plethysmograph (COSMED USA, INC., Concord, CA). Relationships among measures of body composition and athlete’s performance metrics, from a season were examined using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (p ≥ .05). Performance metrics included were vertical jump, batting average (avg), slugging percentage (slg), on base percentage (ob), runs batting in (rbi), number of hits (h), home runs (hr), fielding percentage (fld), earned run average (era), and stolen bases attempted (sba). Results: There were no statistically significant relationships (p > 0.05) between performance metrics and body compositions avg. (r = .076) slg. (r = .171) ob. (r = .117) rbi. (r = .118) h. (r = .094) hr. (r= .273) fld. (r = .449) era. (r = .156) sba. (r = .858). Although, vertical jump showed a positive relationship with batting average (r = .041). Conclusion: This sample of collegiate softball players, body composition and sport performance metrics showed no significant relationship. There was a negative correlation trend in BF% and rbi. (r = 0.68) h. (r = 0.68) and hr. (r = 0.68). These trends show that body composition alone may have no significant impact on performance. Future studies should be based on research, testing skill, reactions, and timing.
