Land based resistance training and youth swimming performance

Resistance training has been shown to have both performance-enhancing and injury-reducing benefits in youth athletes. The benefits are somewhat overlooked by many swimming coaches, therefore the effects of a structured resistance training programme in highly trained youth swimmers was investigated. Nine competitive youth swimmers (age: 13 ± 1.1 years) underwent a 7 week dry-land resistance training programme. Swimming performance and other relevant physiological parameters were measured pre-and post-training. There was a small non-significant improvement in swimming performance following the 7 week training programme (100 m freestyle; p > 0.05, ES = 0.26). Countermovement jump height (p < 0.05, ES = -1.26), back and leg strength (p < 0.05, ES = -1.85) and number of push ups completed in 60 s (p < 0.05, ES = -1.86) all significantly improved. Although the resistance training programme did not significantly improve swimming performance, other physiological parameters, important for success in the pool, did significantly improve. It may be that an adaptation period is needed so the swimmers can learn to efficiently apply their increased force in the water.