George BeckhamCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay | CSUMB · Department of Kinesiology
George Beckham
PhD, Sport Physiology and Performance
About
48
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Introduction
My research focuses on strength testing, performance and training monitoring, and identification of variables that might better indicate meaningful training progress.
Additional affiliations
August 2015 - present
January 2013 - August 2015
Publications
Publications (48)
The isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) is commonly used to assess an athlete’s force generation ability. This test is highly reliable and is simple and relatively quick to perform. The data that can be determined from the force-time curves generated by the test have been shown to be closely related to performance capacities in a variety of dynamic ath...
Reactive strength index-modified (RSImod) is a measure of lower body explosiveness calculated by dividing jump height by time to takeoff. RSImod is different between stronger and weaker athletes and between males and females. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in RSImod between males and females while controlling for maximal stre...
Background:
Since World Rugby changed the laws regarding scrums in the 2013-2014 season, the sustained push phase of the scrum has increased in tactical importance. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine the biomechanical demands during the sustained push phase of individual, unit, and full pack scrummaging.
Me...
The isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) is a multi-joint test of whole-body force production relevant to rugby players. “Rugby AND (mid-thigh pull OR midthigh pull OR mid thigh pull” were searched in PubMed, Sportdiscus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Google Scholar; the final date of search was 24 January 2018. Data extractio...
Background: The lack of knowledge about physical responses to pickleball creates a clear gap about performance in this sport. The purpose of this study was to investigate neuromuscular fatigue caused by playing doubles pickleball. Methods: Recreational pickleball players (n = 32, mean age = 60.0 years) were recruited to perform sets of four counter...
Coaches need reliable methods of quantifying rugby union scrum force performance in order to make data-driven decisions. The purpose of this study is to present the reliability of a replicable instrumented scrum machine. We performed 3 phases of deadweight calibration on 8 S-type load cells; during deadweight calibration, each load cell was loaded...
To examine the relationship between club rugby participation, collegiate experiences, and perceived gains, 25 rugby players and 25 non-athlete students completed the Student-Athlete Experiences Inventory-Revised, Student-Athlete Gains Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale at the start and end of a semester. A RM-ANOVA and partial-η ² effect sizes d...
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between backward overhead medicine ball (BOMB) throw and power snatch throw (PST). Design and Methods: NCAA Division-II college football players (n = 23; age = 21.0 ± 1.4 yrs, height = 184.6 ± 6.0 cm, weight = 105.6 ± 19.0 kg) were evaluated for 5 BOMB throws and 3 PSTs. PST was measured by an accelerometer a...
The potential for high performance in many sports can be assessed by quantifying whole-body explosiveness. The backwards overhead medicine ball (BOMB) throw is commonly-used to tests this ability, but the effect of varied loading on test execution is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different medicine ball (MB) load...
We read the article of Buckner et al. (1), hoping to find new insights on resistance training. Unfortunately, the article is a restatement of information contained in previously published reviews from this group. Here are our major concerns: HYPERTROPHY AND STRENGTH GAINS Buckner et al. believe that high-volume phases are unnecessary. Initial alter...
Background: Since World Rugby changed the laws regarding scrums in the 2013-2014 season, the sustained push phase of the scrum has become of greater tactical importance. Therefore, the purpose of this sytematic literature review was to examine the biomechanical demands during the sustained push phase of individual, unit, and full pack scrummaging....
Background: Since World Rugby changed the laws regarding scrums in the 2013-2014 season, the sustained push phase of the scrum has become of greater tactical importance. Therefore, the purpose of this sytematic literature review was to examine the biomechanical demands during the sustained push phase of individual, unit, and full pack scrummaging....
Background: Since World Rugby changed the laws regarding scrums in the 2013-2014 season, the sustained push phase of the scrum has increased in tactical importance. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine the biomechanical demands during the sustained push phase of individual, unit, and full pack scrummaging. Meth...
The Assess2Perform Bar Sensei is a device used to measure barbell velocity for velocity-based training that has not yet been validated. The purpose of this study was to determine criterion validity and reliability of the Assess2Perform Bar Sensei in barbell back squats by comparing it against the GymAware PowerTool, a previously validated instrumen...
Currently multi-joint, position specific isometric tests (MJIT) are commonly used as part of the monitoring of an athlete’s progress. Strong associations between isometric force-time curve parameters have been found. Perhaps the most commonly used test is the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP). The IMTP was created in the early 1990’s and its use has...
The Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT) is low-risk, easy to perform, requires minimal equipment, and is a valid measure of upper body explosiveness. The Ballistic Ball™ (BB) medicine ball contains inertial sensors which estimate peak velocity, and transmits these values to an iPad™ app via Bluetooth™. This method of gathering data may be superior to...
To examine the relationship between club rugby participation, collegiate experiences and perceived gains, 37 rugby players and 33 non-athlete students completed the Student-Athlete Experiences Inventory-Revised, Student-Athlete Gains Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale at the start of a Spring semester. Linear regressions were used to determine t...
Methods:
Fifty-two competitive weightlifters (31 males, 21 females) participated in squat and countermovement jump testing (SJ, CMJ), and IMTP testing performed on force plates. All laboratory testing data was correlated to a recent competition where the athletes had attempted to peak.
Results:
Squat jump height (SJH) was the strongest correlate...
Mean concentric velocity (MCV) of exercise execution has been used by strength and conditioning professionals to improve exercise technique, provide accurate feedback, and predict exercise one repetition maximum. There is still limited research on velocity based training and currently only one research study on the pull-up exercise. The primary pur...
PURPOSE: The ability to perform pull ups is important for improving mission readiness and for career advancement and retention for tactical athletes such as military, fire, and police. The purpose of this study was to investigate different strategies for improving pull ups. METHODS: Healthy adults were recruited via the internet and randomized into...
Various body positions have been used in the scientific literature when performing the isometric mid-thigh pull resulting in divergent results. We evaluated force production in the isometric mid-thigh pull in bent (125° knee and 125° hip angles) and upright (125° knee, 145° hip angle) positions in subjects with (>6 months) and without (< 6 months)...
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of velocities in the back squat between one repetition maximum (1RM) and submaximally loaded repetition maximum (RM) conditions, specifically in regard to what has been described as the minimal velocity threshold (MVT). The MVT describes a minimum concentric velocity that an indi...
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify the level of accuracy in velocity measurement from a newly developed
inertia sensor.
Design and Methods: Five subjects performed two dumbbell exercises for total of four sets of ten repetitions with a light
intensity. Velocity data were taken and considered for analysis from two devices; the iner...
INTRODUCTION: Tennis can be characterized as a strength-power sport requiring athletes to express intermittent bouts of high power outputs over an extended period of time (Kovacs, 2007). It is not uncommon for athletes to achieve ball velocities of 134-201 km • h-1 with average point lengths of <10s, and work to rest ratios of 1:3-1:5. To achieve t...
The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in reactive strength index-modified
(RSImod), jump height (JH), and time to takeoff (TTT) between six U.S. collegiate sport
teams. 106 male and female Division I collegiate athletes performed unloaded (< 1 kg) and
loaded (20 kg) countermovement jumps as part of an ongoing athlete monitoring p...
The purposes of this study included examining the reliability of reactive strength index-modified
(RSImod), the relationships between RSImod and force-time variables, and the
differences in RSImod between male and female collegiate athletes. 106 Division I collegiate
athletes performed unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps. Intraclass correlati...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various loads on the force-time
characteristics associated with peak power during the hang high pull. 14 athletic men (age: 21.6
± 1.3 years, height: 179.3 ± 5.6 cm, body mass: 81.5 ± 8.7 kg, 1 repetition maximum (1RM)
hang power clean: 104.9 ± 15.1 kg) performed sets of the hang high pull...
The isometric squat has been used to detect changes in kinetic variables as a result of training; however, controversy exists in its application to dynamic multi-joint tasks. Thus, the purpose of this study was to further examine the relationship between isometric squat kinetic variables and isoinertial strength measures. Subjects (17 males, 1-RM:...
THE HANG HIGH PULL IS A WEIGHTLIFTING MOVEMENT DERIVATIVE THAT CAN BE USED IN THE TEACHING PROGRESSION OF THE CLEAN AND SNATCH EXERCISES. THIS EXERCISE ELICITS HIGH AMOUNTS OF LOWER-BODY POWER WITHIN THE SECOND PULL OF THE MOVEMENT BY EMPHASIZING THE EXTENSION OF THE HIP, KNEE, AND ANKLE JOINTS.
Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world today. It offers accessibility to a wide range of ages, physical abilities, and levels of expertise. Novices and experts alike desire maximal performance with the game of golf, and often encounter musculoskeletal injuries in their quest to perform at the highest level possible. The most common inj...
The purpose of this study was to examine positional differences amongst 29 baseball players using the Reactive Strength Index-modified (RSImod) values during unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps (CMJ). A secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between other jump performance characteristics and RSImod values. All athletes underwent...
Accelerometers are devices that have been recently used to assess the performance of weightlifters in training. This case study used vertical acceleration data to assess multiple snatch attempts in a single lifter during a training session. The lifter exhibited variability in a number of measures, including peak acceleration and peak velocity. The...
This study examined the reliability of reactive strength index-modified (RSImod), relationships between RSImod and force-time variables, and difference in RSImod between male and female collegiate athletes. 106 Division I collegiate athletes performed unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps. Intraclass correlation coefficients and coefficients of...
The purpose of this study was to compare reactive strength index-modified (RSImod) between six U.S. collegiate sport teams. One hundred six athletes performed maximum effort countermovement jumps during unloaded and loaded conditions. RSImod measures for each team were compared using one-way ANOVAs, and Bonferroni post hoc tests where warranted. St...
Reactive strength index-modified (RSImod) may be an important variable to measure in the performance testing and monitoring of athletes, and very little work has examined this particular variable. One hundred six Division-I collegiate athletes performed countermovement jumps and the isometric mid-thigh pull. The relationship between the RSImod and...
The jump shrug (JS) is an explosive lower-body exercise that can be used to enhance lower-body muscular power. In addition, this exercise can be used as part of the teaching progression of the clean and snatch, while emphasizing the second pull and complete extension of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. This exercise can be per-formed from a static...
Weightlifting shoes (WL) are almost universally used by weightlifters, yet are not nearly as common in weightrooms, where running/athletic shoes (RS) are more common. While some studies have examined kinematic differences between shoe types in the back squat, no studies have examined this issue with EMG. Purpose: To compare lower body EMG activity...
This study examined the impact of load on lower body performance variables during the hang power clean. Fourteen men performed the hang power clean at loads of 30%, 45%, 65%, and 80% 1RM. Peak force, velocity, power, force at peak power, velocity at peak power, and rate of force development were compared at each load. The greatest peak force occurr...
Force plates are useful for examining the kinetic characteristics of an athlete’s movement. They provide information about the external forces involved in movement that can aid a coach or sport scientist to quantitatively evaluate the athlete’s execution of a skill or his/her physical development. Obtaining data of the highest quality and minimisin...
Aim: The purpose of this study was: 1) to investigate the alterations and relationships among training variables, performance variables, and physiological variables and 2) investigate the effects of strength training on potentiation complexes.
Methods: The study enrolled nine D-1 collegiate throwers and four control subjects. The throwers particip...
Aim:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between weightlifting performance (snatch, clean and jerk, and total) and variables obtained from the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP).
Methods:
Twelve weightlifters, ranging from novice to advanced, performed the IMTP 10 days after a competition. Correlations were used to evaluate r...
Objectives: To examine the impact of load on lower body kinetics during the jump shrug. Design: Randomized, repeated measures design. Methods: Fourteen men performed randomized sets of the jump shrug at relative loads of 30%, 45%, 65%, and 80% of their one repetition maximum hang clean (1RM-HC). A number of variables were obtained through analysis...
Objectives: To determine if force differences exist between isometric pulling positions corresponding to key positions of the deadlift.
Design: Cross-sectional evaluation of isometric strength
Methods: 14 powerlifters performed isometric pulls on a force plate at 3 key positions related to the deadlift (at the floor, just above the patella, and 5-6...