The effect of a resistance training programme on the grab, track and swing starts in swimming

Abstract The aim of this study was to establish the effectiveness of a resistance training programme, designed to improve vertical jumping ability, on the grab, swing and rear-weighted track starts in swimming. Twenty-three female non-competitive swimmers participated (age 19.9±2.4 years; mean±s). The diving techniques were practised weekly for 8 weeks. The participants were randomly assigned to a control group (n=11) or a resistance-training group (n=12), which trained three times a week for 9 weeks. The tests before and after the training programme involved performing each dive technique and six dry-land tests: two countermovement jumps (with and without arms), two isokinetic squats (bar speeds of 0.44 and 0.70 rad · s−1) and two overhead throws (with and without back extension). A repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to show that resistance training improved performance in the dry-land tests (P<0.0001). No significant improvements due to training were found for any temporal, kinematic or kinetic variables within the grab or swing starts. Significant improvements (P<0.05) were found for the track start for take-off velocity, take-off angle and horizontal impulse. The results suggest that the improved skill of vertical jumping was not transferred directly to the start, particularly in the grab technique. Non-significant trends towards improvement were observed within all starts for vertical force components, suggesting the need to practise the dives to retrain the changed neuromuscular properties.