Optimised force-velocity training during pre-season enhances physical performance in professional rugby league players

The effectiveness of 8-week force-velocity optimised training was assessed in highly trained professional rugby league athletes. Players (age 24 +/- 3 years; body mass 94.9 +/- 21.6 kg; height 181.3 +/- 6.0 cm) were strength-matched and assigned to a force-velocity optimised group (OP;n= 15) or a general strength-power group (GP;n= 14). Tests included 10-m, 20-m sprints, 3 repetition-maximum squat and squat jumps over five load conditions to ascertain vertical force-velocity relationship. ANCOVA revealed there was a group effect for force-velocity deficit (P< 0.001), with the OP two-fold greater than the GP group (OP pre: 51.13 +/- 31.42%, post: 62.26 +/- 31.45%, GP pre: 33.00 +/- 19.60%, post: 31.14 +/- 31.45%,P< 0.001). There were further group effects for 3RM squat (OP pre: 151.17 +/- 22.95 kg, post: 162.17 +/- 24.16 kg, GP pre: 156.43 +/- 25.07 kg, post: 163.39 +/- 25.39 kg,P< 0.001), peak power (OP pre: 3195 +/- 949 W, post: 3552 +/- 1033 W, GP pre: 3468 +/- 911 W, post: 3591 +/- 936 W,P< 0.001), and SJ (OP pre: 39.79 +/- 7.80 cm, post: 42.69 +/- 7.83 cm, GP pre: 40.44 +/- 6.23 cm, post: 41.14 +/- 5.66 cm,P< 0.001). Prescribing F-V deficit training is superior for improving physical performance within highly trained RL players.