The Relationship between Body Composition and Preseason Performance Tests of Division III Male Lacrosse Players

Abstract

Body composition has been considered a major component of overall fitness. A multitude of studies have examined the effect that body composition has on aerobic and anaerobic performance variables in football, soccer, and ice hockey yet there are significantly less examining the same relationships in men's lacrosse. Lacrosse possess a unique combination of aerobic and anaerobic conditioning for optimal performance that may be affected by body composition similar to those effects that have been reported in football, soccer, and ice hockey athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition and performance in preseason aerobic and anaerobic tests of Division III men's lacrosse players. METHODS: Fifty-four (age 19.63 ± 1.21 years, height 178.53 ± 6.17 cm, and body mass 81.66 ± 14.96 kg) Division III intercollegiate lacrosse players participated. Coaching staff determined exercise tests were performed, including a 1RM power clean (PC), 10 reps x body weight (lbs) bench press (BR), parallel bar triceps dips to fatigue (DR), two 300-yrd shuttles, and a timed 1 mi run (MT). Testing was performed following the completion of fall preseason practices. Body composition was estimated using air displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod). Pearson bivariate correlation coefficients were used to determine relationships between percent body fat (%BF) and the testing variables with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: %BF was moderately negatively correlated to DR (r = -0.36; p = 0.01) while %BF was positively correlated to each 300-yrd shuttle time (T1 and T2), total 300-yrd shuttle time (TT), and MT (r = 0.64; p = 0.00, r = 0.68; p = 0.00, r = 0.69; p = 0.00, and r = 0.44; p = 0.00, respectively). No significant correlation was found between %BF and BR (r = -0.16; p = 0.28) nor PC (r = 0.01; p =0.95). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that %BF may be detrimental to singular and multiple anaerobic performances, which require propulsion of an athlete's own body weight, that may hinder on-field performance. This information can be used to expand targeted strength and conditioning programs geared to improving body composition in conjunction with strength and power development. In addition, preseason and in-season aerobic conditioning could also be beneficial if focused on reduced %BF in athletes.