Effects of attentional focus during short-term drop-jump training on strength, jump and sprint performances in hurling players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of attentional focus during a bounce drop-jump (BDJ) training program on the reactive strength index (RSI), maximum strength, counter movement jump (CMJ) and sprint performances in male hurling players. Twenty players were assigned to either a NONCOACH (no coaching instruction) or a COACH (neutral, internal and external focus coaching instructions) group and were tested at baseline, pre- and post- the 6-week BDJ program. Significant differences were found pre-to post-program in both groups for the following measures: BDJ RSI (NONCOACH: 21.1% (p< 0.001), ES = 0.81; COACH: 22.2%(p =0.010), ES =0.76); BDJ height (NONCOACH: 19.8%(p =0.010), ES =0.91; COACH: 21.1%(p =0.010), ES = 0.81); absolute 3RM back squat (NONCOACH: 6.6%(p =0.020), ES =0.36; COACH: 12.3%(p =0.030), ES =0.79) and relative 3RM back squat (NONCOACH: 6.7% (p =0.010), ES =0.53; COACH: 12.6% (p =0.040), ES =0.79).The COACH group increased eccentric rate of force development (ECC-RFD) from pre- to post-program (absolute ECC-RFD: 44.6% (p =0.050), ES = 0.60; relative ECC-RFD: 44.7% (p =0.040), ES = 0.58), from baseline to post-program for CMJ height (9.5% (p =0.020), ES =0.45) and peak force (absolute: 11.2%(p =0.040), ES =0.70; relative: 10.1%(p=0.040), ES =0.67). Including coaching instructions during BDJ training is effective in enhancing strength and power capacities in hurling players and is transferrable to jumping.