Running Head: RESEARCH PLAN 1 RESEARCH PLAN 5 Effects of Back Squat vs. Front Squat on Vertical Jump Performance Effects of Back Squat vs. Front Squat on Vertical Jump Performance Introduction The success of athletes as written in Crewther et al. (2017) work is heavily reliant on their ability to generate power from the lower body which in turn helps them to perform skills and tasks specific to the requirement of the sport in question. Volleyball players, for example, rely on high jumps to perform spikes and blocks against their opponents. Crewther et al. (2017) further add that the lower body power is generated by power zones which comprise of the musculature of the lower back, thighs, and hips as well as the posterior lower leg. Realizing this, however, is dependent on squats which help in developing as well as increasing muscular strength. Crewther et al. (2017) argue that the front squat calls for higher mobility as compared to the back squat and this they explain is because an athlete needs excellent thoracic spine mobility to realize groin and superb hi mobility, shoulder mobility, increased wrist flexibility and keep their chest up. Front squat further helps in keeping ones lower back from rounding and increased ankle mobility. On the other hand, the back squats call for less ankles, hips and shoulder mobility allowing an athlete to jump into them sooner (Crewther et al. 2017). This is an important element for strength gain in training activities as it improves vertical jump to a greater extent as compared to other similar exercises. Collectively, the training programs that include squats as noted by Crewther et al. (2017) have recorded greater enhancements in vertical jumping as compared to any other programs without this training. The difference in the variations of the two types of squats is however on the placement of the bar. The back squat, for example, has the bar position across the back shoulder when the front squat has the bar in the front shoulder. Each type of squat serve a different purpose but collectively they improve an athlete's body strength. Purpose of study Based on the discussion above, this study aims at comparing the effect of a strength training program verse that of a back-training program on an athlete's vertical jump performance. The main goal is to establish which is training result in greater performance than the other and thus use the findings to guide the athlete's reliant on vertical jump performance improve their overall success against their opponents. Research Question The main research question for this study will be to investigate the effects of back squat vs. front squat on vertical jump performance. Other supporting questions will focus on addressing which of the two options is more effective over the other as well as whether the same effectiveness applies to all sports activities or only a selective category. Hypothesis 1. The researcher hypotheses that both f.

1. Running Head: RESEARCH PLAN
1
RESEARCH PLAN
5
Effects of Back Squat vs. Front Squat on Vertical Jump
Performance
Effects of Back Squat vs. Front Squat on Vertical Jump
Performance
Introduction
The success of athletes as written in Crewther et al. (2017)
work is heavily reliant on their ability to generate power from
the lower body which in turn helps them to perform skills and
tasks specific to the requirement of the sport in question.
Volleyball players, for example, rely on high jumps to perform
spikes and blocks against their opponents. Crewther et al.
(2017) further add that the lower body power is generated by
power zones which comprise of the musculature of the lower
back, thighs, and hips as well as the posterior lower leg.
Realizing this, however, is dependent on squats which help in

2. developing as well as increasing muscular strength.
Crewther et al. (2017) argue that the front squat calls for higher
mobility as compared to the back squat and this they explain is
because an athlete needs excellent thoracic spine mobility to
realize groin and superb hi mobility, shoulder mobility,
increased wrist flexibility and keep their chest up. Front squat
further helps in keeping ones lower back from rounding and
increased ankle mobility. On the other hand, the back squats
call for less ankles, hips and shoulder mobility allowing an
athlete to jump into them sooner (Crewther et al. 2017). This is
an important element for strength gain in training activities as it
improves vertical jump to a greater extent as compared to other
similar exercises.
Collectively, the training programs that include squats as noted
by Crewther et al. (2017) have recorded greater enhancements
in vertical jumping as compared to any other programs without
this training. The difference in the variations of the two types of
squats is however on the placement of the bar. The back squat,
for example, has the bar position across the back shoulder when
the front squat has the bar in the front shoulder. Each type of
squat serve a different purpose but collectively they improve an
athlete's body strength.
Purpose of study
Based on the discussion above, this study aims at comparing the
effect of a strength training program verse that of a back-
training program on an athlete's vertical jump performance. The
main goal is to establish which is training result in greater
performance than the other and thus use the findings to guide
the athlete's reliant on vertical jump performance improve their
overall success against their opponents.

3. Research Question
The main research question for this study will be to investigate
the effects of back squat vs. front squat on vertical jump
performance. Other supporting questions will focus on
addressing which of the two options is more effective over the
other as well as whether the same effectiveness applies to all
sports activities or only a selective category.
Hypothesis
1. The researcher hypotheses that both front and back squat
improves vertical jump performance.
2. The second hypothesis both back squat and front squat have
the same effectiveness when it comes to vertical jump
performance.
3. Lastly, the researcher hypotheses that the effectiveness
applies differently in different sports activities with the most
efficiency evidence in activities that use of vertical jump.
Study Design
This study will use an experimental research design to compare
the effect of the two types of squats in improving vertical jump
performance. True experimental research design will be the
most accurate for this study as it makes inference to statistical
analysis to answer a research question as well as support or
disapprove a hypothesis. Additionally, Lipsey (2014) states
that; this is the only type of experimental design that establishes
a cause-effect relationship within different variables. The
following factors will additionally need to be satisfied:
1. Control group and experimental group, the control group will
be the participants with the same experimental requirements as
the experimental group only that they will not operate as per the
rules of the research.
2. The second factor is variable that can be manipulated which
in this study will be the type of squat done by the participants

4. 3. Lastly is random distribution of the study participants
Data Collection Method
Data will be collected based on direct observation; this is the
selected option as it will; allow the researcher to observe the
behaviors of the participants as dictated by study's need
evaluation, frequency counts of the targeted outcome and the
dynamics of the situation. Secondly, written reports will be used
to document additional data on all stage of the study for a more
accurate analysis and documentation of the findings. This will
be important as it will help the researcher produce both
quantitative and qualitative data on the study.
References
Crewther, B. T., Kilduff, L. P., Cook, C. J., Middleton, M. K.,
Bunce, P. J., & Yang, G. Z. (2017). The effects of back squats
and front squats on athlete performance. The Journal of
Strength & Conditioning Research, 25(12), 3319-3325.
Lipsey, M. W. (2014). Design sensitivity: Statistical power for
experimental research (Vol. 19). Sage.