The Role of Maximal-, Explosive-, and Reactive-Strength on the Magnitude of Adaptation to Sprint Training in Elite Female Gaelic Football

Hughes, W, Healy, R, Lyons, M, Higginbotham, C, Lane, A, and Beattie, K. The role of maximal-, explosive-, and reactive-strength on the magnitude of adaptation to sprint training in elite female Gaelic football. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—It has been established that maximal-, explosive-, and reactive-strength play an important role in the development of speed. However, it is unclear whether stronger individuals, who have already gained the superior neuromuscular adaptations from strength training, will adapt to a sprint training program to a greater extent than weaker individuals. The aim of this study was to explore the role of strength on the magnitude of sprint adaptations in elite female Gaelic football players. It was hypothesized that higher levels of maximal-, explosive-, and reactive-strength would be positively related to higher magnitudes of adaptation after an 8-week sprint training program. Eighteen elite female Gaelic football players (age: 25.3 ± 6.3 years; height: 1.67 ± 0.06 m; mass: 65.3 ± 7.7 kg) participated in this study. The physical strength characteristics (isometric midthigh pull, countermovement jump, and 10–5 repeat jump test) and sprint performance (0–5, 0–10, 0–20, 0–25, 0–30, and 0–35 m) were assessed for all subjects before and after the training period. All subjects completed the same sprint training program twice per week for 8 weeks which focused on the development of maximum velocity (day 1) and acceleration (day 2), with a total sprint volume of 2,240 m. Paired samples t test revealed significant small to large improvements in performance across all sprint distances and maximum velocity (except for 0–20 m), with effect sizes ranging from 0.49 to 0.85 ( p < 0.05). A linear regression demonstrated that only the reactive strength index could significantly predict changes in sprint performance for the 35-m sprint distance ( p = 0.042, R 2 = 0.212). There were no significant associations between the maximal- and explosive-strength and any of the sprint distances. The findings of this study indicate that higher initial levels of reactive-strength were significantly associated with the improvements in sprint performance over 0–35 m, accounting for 21.2% of the variability. This suggests that enhancing reactive-strength could be a key focus for training programs aiming to improve sprint performance in elite female Gaelic football players.