VERTICAL JUMP HEIGHT AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

Abstract

The vast spectrum of knowledge concerning the vertical jump has established the unchallenged acceptance that males q e able to "out jump" females in explosive power capability. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed between males' and females' centre of gravity (COG) displacement during a vertical jump. Six male and twelve female Division I intercollegiate basketball players served as subjects. Data was collected with a Panasonic CCD 5 100 video camera operating at 60 Hz, and a Panasonic AG 7400VCR placed 5m from the sagittal view of the performer. Eight reflective markers were placed on body landmarks to aid in digitizing. Data was analyzed with the Ariel Performance Analysis System to obtain displacements, velocities and accelerations of subjects performing standing and one-step approach vertical jumps. Results appeared to indicate a gender difference in percent change of COG and counter movement crouch depth. Female values of 54.7% standing COG, 17.9% change with no approach, and 15.7% change with one-step approach indicated greater percentage changes than male (54.5 % , 10.7 % , 9.7 %).The average crouch depth was 17.9 cm for female and 15.9 cm for male. Based on relative percentages, the females displaced their COG upward a greater percentage than the males. Males, on the average, jumped higher vertically than females when measured in absolute values. However, this study indicated that females actually moved their COG further upward than their male counter-parts with a 6% overall advantage. Is this an actual gender difference or were differences in jumping style a contributing factor? Additional research with increased numbers of subjects is needed to attempt to answer this question.