As discussed above, jump squat assessments of speed-strength performance are

often conducted over a range of loads. From a methodological point of view,

it appears that the use of apparatus such as a Smith machine or Plyometric
Power System may impact upon the relationship between jump squat power
output and measures of athletic performance (Cronin and Hansen, 2005).
Scores on an unrestricted squat jump using a free-weight Olympic barbell were
found to correlate with sprint performance in rugby league football players
(Cronin and Hansen, 2005) whereas absolute squat jump scores measured
in restricted apparatus reportedly did not (Baker and Nance, 1999b). By
restricting the plane of motion of the bar it may be that this apparatus affects
the functionality of the test by reducing the degree of specificity to sports
movements, such as balance and co-ordination aspects (Cronin and Hansen,
2005). However, devices are now commercially available that allow free-weight
barbell jump squats to be used for the same form of assessment to evaluate
power output.
Olympic weightlifting repetition-maximum testing
Another common measure of speed-strength capabilities against greater resistance involves RM testing using
Olympic weightlifting movements. The power
clean is generally chosen due to the familiarity of this lift for most players and
the fact that it has a distinct end point – i.e. the player either fails or succeeds
to catch the bar at the top of the lift. In much the same way as for free weight
isoinertial strength tests, players’ scores tend to be limited by their technical
proficiency with the lift. To avoid such limiting factors some practitioners
employ the pulling derivatives of the Olympic lifts for RM assessments – i.e.
without the catch portion of the movement at the top of the lift. This may help
to offset issues relating to lifting skill associated with the ‘catch’. However, there
may be other issues using the Olympic pulling derivatives for RM testing. In the
absence of the catch as a distinct end point, there are challenges standardizing
how high the barbell must be raised in order to deem that the player has
successfully completed the pulling lift with a given weight.
RM testing using the hang power clean (i.e. a power clean initiated
with the bar at the ‘hang’ position at mid-thigh) is also often used to assess
maximum speed-strength capabilities. Australian Rules football players’ scores
on the 1-RM hang power clean were found to be related to their vertical jump,
maximum strength (squat 1-RM), and sprint performance (Hori et al., 2008).