Intentions Matter When it Comes to Body Composition Changes in DIII Athletes Over Summer Break

Abstract

In Division III, coaches cannot require athletes to report summer workouts, but can suggest what should be done to be ready the upcoming season. Coaches also cannot cut an athlete based on knowledge of a lack of summer workouts. PURPOSE: To determine whether athlete intentions lead to efficacious outcomes in DIII athletes over summer break. It was hypothesized that due to lack of accountability, body composition intentions over summer break would not be achieved. METHODS: Fifty-one student athletes (32 women, 19 men; 20 ± 1 years old) had their body composition assessed in May in addition to their intention(s) regarding body composition changes over summer break (increase muscle mass and/or decrease fat mass or no change). Body composition was again assessed in August of the following school year. RESULTS: Only an intention to increase muscle mass or decrease body fat mass led to no significant change in either variable. When athletes had the combined intention of increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat mass, a significant decrease in body fat percentage was observed (-1.8 ± 2.3%; p = 0.017). Independently, the increase in muscle mass (+1.33 ± 2.3kg; p = 0.063) and decrease in fat mass (-1.1 ± 2.2kg; p=0.094) were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, these data suggest in order to achieve a decrease in fat mass, that has a significant impact on percent body fat, this intention should be combined with the intention to increase muscle mass. Additionally, singular intentions did not evoke intended body composition changes.