Contributions of Speed, Agility and Body Composition to Anaerobic Power Measurement in College Football Players

Fifty-three football players were evaluated to determine the contributions of speed, agility and body composition to anaerobic power output. Speed was evaluated from the 10- and 40-yard dashes. Agility was measured from a specifically designed pattern requiring change of direction. Body composition was estimated from skinfolds using general and sports-specific equations. Power was determined from the Margaria-Kalamen stair run test. Body weight made the biggest contribution to power estimation (r = 0.82). Ten-yard dash speed (r = 0.16) and agility (r = 0.21) made only minor contributions to power output; however, when the effect of body weight was removed statistically, faster (r = −0.54) and more agile (r = −0.31) players produced greater power outputs. The relationship between strength, as measured from the bench press, and power (r = 0.68) was reduced substantially when controlled for the effect of body weight (r = 0.33). Multiple regression analysis indicated that body size and speed were the major contributing factors to power production. Factor analysis isolated size/strength/power, speed/fat and agility dimensions, further illustrating the independence of these fundamental characteristics among football players. The Margaria-Kalamen power test appeared to be related to size and strength in college football players, moderately dependent on speed and relatively unrelated to agility.