Strength and Speed Adaptations in Female Team Sport Athletes

This project aims to evaluate the role of strength on speed adaptations (i.e., acceleration, maximum-velocity & ‘game’ speed) and investigate the effect of specific strength training (i.e., maximal-, explosive-strength) on speed in elite female team-sport athletes, specifically Ladies Gaelic Football players. The findings from this innovative project will provide evidence-based research that will inform decision making and best practice within elite female team-sports, specifically the Ladies Gaelic Football. Further, this project will contribute to bridging the gender data gap in sport and exercise science research. A review of the literature has indicated that strength training can improve sprint performance in female team-sport athletes, however, the magnitude of improvement in sprint performance was influenced by the strength quality (i.e., reactive-, maximal-, combined-, and special-strength) utilised in the intervention. 

PHD Student

William Hughes

William holds a MSc in Strength & Conditioning, graduating from Limerick Institute of Technology in 2015. William is also a practising Strength and Conditioning coach, working within Athletics, GAA and Rugby Union. Supervisors: Dr Kris Beattie, Dr Robin Healy, Dr Mark Lyons, Dr Clem Higginbotham, Dr Aoife Lane.

Publications

Hughes, W., Healy, R., Lyons, M. et al. The Effect of Different Strength Training Modalities on Sprint Performance in Female Team-Sport Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med 53, 993–1015 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01820-5