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Dann, E, Quinn, S, Russell, M, Kilduff, LP, Turner, AN, and Hills, SP. Alternate leg bounding acutely improves change-of-direction performance in women's team sports players irrespective of ground type. J Strength Cond Res37(6): 1199–1203, 2023—This study aimed to assess whether body mass only alternate leg bounding performed post-warm-up on grass or a hard surface acutely improves preplanned change-of-direction performance in women's team sports players relative to a control condition and, if so, profile the time course of such changes. On 3 occasions, 14 amateur women's team sports players performed 20 m preplanned change-of-direction (“Pro-Agility”) tests at 4, 8, and 12 minutes after interventions. Interventions were implemented immediately after a standardized warm-up and consisted of 3 sets of 10 repetitions of alternate leg bounding (5 ground contacts per limb) on a hard indoor surface (HARD) or natural grass (GRASS), or a control condition involving approximately 75 seconds of continuous walking with no bounding (CON). Performance was similar between conditions at 4-minutes postintervention. Performance at 8 minutes was greater in HARD (2.9%, p= 0.015) and GRASS (3.8%, p= 0.029) relative to CON, whereas GRASS also exceeded CON at 12 minute post-bounding (5.2%, p= 0.004). All effects were large. No differences existed between HARD and GRASS at any time. Irrespective of the ground surface, alternate leg bounding performed with body mass only can acutely improve indices of change-of-direction performance in women's team sports players when an appropriate post-stimulus recovery period is provided. Bounding on grass or a hard surface represents a feasible match-day practice that enhances subsequent change-of-direction performance and could therefore be used as part of practically applicable pre-match, half-time, and pitch-side (re)warm-up activities.

McFadden, BA, Walker, AJ, Bozzini, BN, Hofacker, M, Russell, M, and Arent, SM. Psychological and physiological changes in response to the cumulative demands of a women's division I collegiate soccer season. J Strength Cond Res36(5): 1373–1382, 2022—This study sought to determine the effects of a women's collegiate soccer season on psychological markers, biomarkers, sleep, and performance. Athletes participated in maximal countermovement vertical jump height (CMJ) assessments and biomarker monitoring in conjunction with subjective measures of psychological wellness and sleep questionnaires before preseason (S1) and every 4 weeks following (S2, S3, and S4). Training was monitored during practices and games using global positioning satellite systems and heart rate technology. Total training load was highest from S1 to S2, decreased from S2 to S3 (effect size [ES] = -2.5; p< 0.001), and remained stable from S3 to S4. CMJ declined at S2 (ES1-2= −0.51; p= 0.001) and returned to baseline at S3. Increases from S1 to S2 were seen for creatine kinase (ES1-2= 1.74), free testosterone (ES1-2= 1.27), total testosterone (ES1-2= 3.5), and free cortisol (ES1-2= 0.88) (p< 0.03) before returning to baseline by S3 and S4 (free cortisol). Total cortisol was elevated throughout the season before declining at S4 (ES1-4= −0.41; p= 0.03). Iron declined from S1 to S2 (ES1-2= −0.73; p= 0.01) and returned to baseline values at S4, whereas growth hormone declined at S2 (ES1-2= −0.50; p= 0.01) and remained depressed. Interleukin-6 increased at S4 (ES1-4= 0.71; p= 0.02). Total training distress decreased from S1 to S2 (ES1-2= −0.38; p= 0.02), returned to baseline by S3, and increased by S4 (ES1-4= 0.57; p= 0.01). No changes were observed in markers of sleep (p> 0.05). Biomarkers showed notable changes after the highest workload period (S1-S2), which coincided with CMJ decrements. Biomarker perturbations preceded declines in subjective psychological wellness (S4) which occurred in the latter half of the season, indicating an accumulation of fatigue as the season progressed.