Unlocking Basketball Athletic Performance: Countermovement Jump Rebound (CMJ-RE) Normative Reference Values Derived from Force Plate Data Across Seven NCAA Division-I Power Five Men’s College Basketball Teams

Authors

  • Drake Berberet Hawkin Dynamics, Westbrook, Maine, USA
  • Adam Petway Department of Health & Sports Science; The University of Louisville, USA
  • Karah Bell University of Louisville Athletics, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
  • Zach Gillen Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
  • Peter Mundy Hawkin Dynamics, Westbrook, Maine, USA
  • Henry Barrera Men’s Basketball, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
  • Jason Kabo Men’s Basketball, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
  • Dom Walker Men’s Basketball, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, USA
  • Garrett Medenwald Men’s Basketball, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
  • Braden Welsh Men’s Basketball, Vanderbilt University, USA
  • John McMahon Hawkin Dynamics, Westbrook, Maine, USA & University of Salford, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Manchester, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v5i1.555

Keywords:

Force plate testing, countermovement rebound jump, basketball testing

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the emerging countermovement rebound jump (CMJ-RE) test as an alternative to the drop jump (DJ) to grade reactive strength abilities in elite basketball players. Normative percentile data, rebound jump filter criteria, novel effort metrics, and reliability statistics were analyzed in order to better define the standards for a high-quality CMJ-RE test and to democratize the measurement of reactive jump testing. Methods: 96 NCAA Division-I men’s college basketball players from seven teams performed the CMJ-RE (bounce-method) on bilateral force plates with hands on hips during the 2023-2024 pre-season. Only 87 players met the quality filter criteria for further analysis (three centers, 31 forwards, 53 guards); the center position was not compared in depth due to the limited sample size. Results: Between forwards and guards, positional differences were found for 37% of the 38 reported jump metrics, with guards showing higher rebound jump heights (JH), all other metrics (p < 0.05) favored forwards. Mean ground contact times (GCT) for both positions were >250 ms. On average for both positions, the first jump in the CMJ-RE was completed at 94% JH of a previously collected standalone CMJ JH; and the second jump was completed at 98% JH of the first CMJ-RE JH. Furthermore, percentile ranges (3rd to 97th) accompanied by qualitative descriptors and a traffic light classification system were reported. Conclusion: Overall, the CMJ-RE (bounce-method) is a reliable alternative to the DJ for assessing reactive strength qualities in elite basketball players and may be more sport-specific, due to players frequently performing subsequent jumps rather than one single effort jump. The normative data prepared in this study should serve as a reference point throughout the evaluation of reactive strength for basketball performance coaches and in the return to play process for sports medicine professionals. Those administering the CMJ-RE should use the filter criteria measures outlined in this paper to ensure quality and effort are being met.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Downloads

Published

2025-10-03

How to Cite

Drake Berberet, Adam Petway, Karah Bell, Zach Gillen, Peter Mundy, Henry Barrera, Jason Kabo, et al. 2025. “Unlocking Basketball Athletic Performance: Countermovement Jump Rebound (CMJ-RE) Normative Reference Values Derived from Force Plate Data Across Seven NCAA Division-I Power Five Men’s College Basketball Teams”. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning 5 (1). https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v5i1.555.

Most read articles by the same author(s)