Comparison of On-Campus and Off-Campus Summer Training on Strength Performance of College Football Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess changes in one-repetition (1RM) strength performances during summer training in college football players who remained on-campus and those who did not. NCAA Division II players (n = 85, weight = 102.2 ± 22.8 kg) self-selected to stay on-campus for 90% of the summer (ES, n = 14), 50% of the summer (PS, n = 24), and 0% of the summer (NS, n = 47). 1RM for bench press (BP) and squat (SQ) were performed at the beginning of summer and prior to fall training camp. Each player received individualized resistance training programs throughout the summer based on pre-test maximal strength measurements. Comparison of post-training BP improvement scores indicated significantly greater gain (p<0.01) for ES and PS (10.5 ± 8.5 kg and 8.0 ± 6.2 kg, respectively) than for NS (1.5 ± 5.1 kg). Post-training gain scores for SQ indicated ES (39.4 ± 30.6 kg) was significantly greater than PS (22.7 ± 18.8 kg) which was significantly greater than NS (1.7 ± 10.7 kg). Whether due to more consistent routine of training and/or greater motivation, resistance training under the supervision of a strength and conditioning specialist during the summer produced significantly greater improvements in both BP and SQ for those athletes who remained on-campus compared to those players who left campus for the entire summer.