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A COMPARISON OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE COACHES STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PRACTICES 1997-1998 TO 2018
Corey Fitzgerald [email protected]
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Recommended Citation Fitzgerald, Corey, "A COMPARISON OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE COACHES STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PRACTICES 1997-1998 TO 2018" (2020). All NMU Master's Theses. 614. https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/614
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A Comparison of the National Football League Coaches Strength and Conditioning Practices 1997-1998 to 2018
By:
Corey F. Fitzgerald
THESIS
Submitted to Northern Michigan University In Partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of
MASTER’S OF SCIENCE
School of Health & Human Performance Office of Graduate Education and Research
Dr. Randy Jensen
Dr. William Ebben
Dr. Sarah Breen
Dr. Elizabeth Wuorinen
Dr. Lisa Eckert
Abstract
This study describes the results of a survey of the strength and conditioning practices of the National Football League’s (NFL) strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches. The primary purpose was to identify the common and unique aspects of the NFL S&C practices during 2018.
A secondary purpose was to compare those results to 1997-1998 (‘97-98) to determine differences across years. The survey response rate was 28.1% (9 of 32 NFL teams) agreeing to participate. The survey instrument was a 150 item assessment divided into 10 sections examining the entire training program. Results revealed that subjects test 6.8 ± 3.1 fitness variables using
9.0 ± 3.7 tests; compared to 7.0 fitness variables using 10.0 tests in ‘97-98. Six subjects prescribe plyometric exercises to “all players” 1.8 ± .4 days per week. During the in-season subjects prescribed resistance training 2.3 ± .8 days per week (n=6); similar to 2.8 ± 0.8 days per week in
’97-98 (p= .220). Subjects prescribed off-season resistance training 3.5 ± 0.8 days per week; compared to 2.0 ± 2.9 days per week in ’97-98 (p= .007). Five subjects prescribed “all players” balance and stability training “year round”; on average 3.3 ± .9 days per week (n=4). This data should be useful for future research as a source for comparison. With this new source of information, researchers are able to continue to empirically investigate various aspects of training programing. Additionally, a variety of other S&C practices were examined. This research was funded by two Excellence in Education Research Grants.
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Copyright by
Corey F. Fitzgerald
2019
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Acknowledgements
The thesis follows the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research submission format along with the School of Health and Human Performance at Northern Michigan University. We wish to thank all the survey participants whose time and efforts made this research possible. This research was funded by two Northern Michigan University Excellence in Education Research
Grants.
I would also like to thank my thesis committee for their continued guidance during this time. Specifically, Dr. Breen for originally being my professor for Strength and Conditioning
Theory and teaching me the scientific principles that leads to the foundation of this thesis. Dr.
Ebben for allowing me to replicate is original research. And lastly, Dr. Jensen who is always willing to help me not only with this thesis but my entire course work through graduate school.
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