A Survey Exploring Strength and Conditioning Coaches’ Preferences and Perceptions on Weightlifting-Based Training for Enhancing High Intensity Actions in Team Sports

This study investigated strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) preferences and perceptions on the use of weightlifting (WL) based training for enhancing performance of high-intensity actions (HIAs) including vertical jumping (VJ), linear sprinting (LS) and change of direction (COD) in team sport athletes. Thirty-three SCCs (30 males, 3 females) with 15±9 years’ experience volunteered to participate. The survey consisted of three sections: 1) SCC demographics, 2) SCCs’ views on WL-based training to prepare team sport athletes for HIAs and 3) exercise selection and preferences for enhancing HIAs in team sport athletes. A series of open-ended (n = 7), multiple-choice (n = 9), Likert scale (n = 9) and open rank order (n = 3) questions were asked. Fixed responses were analysed using frequency analysis and open-ended questions by thematic analysis. More SCCs rated full WL movements as low compared to high importance for VJ (42% vs. 16%), LS (50% vs. 16%) and COD (62% vs. 19%). For WL derivatives, more SCCs rated pulling derivatives as high importance for VJ (47% high vs. 12% low) and LS (35% high vs. 24% low), however, for COD, more rated it as low importance (34% low vs. 19% high). SCCs valued catching derivatives more for COD (35% high vs. 34% low) and VJ (31% high vs. 20% low) than LS (35% low vs. 27% high). SCCs’ main justifications for WL-based training were for power (46%) and strength (38%) development, with overarching reasons for not using it being due to the time taken to learn technical demands (69%) and the physical limitations of athletes (31%). To best develop HIAs SCCs prefer specific methods that prioritises training the HIAs themselves. Further research comparing the effectiveness of WL-based training to alternative training methods is required to reach a clearer consensus within the SCC profession on the importance of WL-based training for enhancing HIA.