Abstract
The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of weight training on the accuracy of throwing a football.
My hypothesis is that weight training with regular throwing practice will improve throwing accuracy over the training period. Accuracy will improve because weight-training will strengthen of the large muscles and regular throwing practice will maintain coordination. Stronger muscles will control the football better.
Six male high school students were selected to participate in the study. They were categorized as weight lifters that will practice throwing (Subject A), weight lifters that will not practice throwing (Subjects C and D), non-weight lifters that will practice throwing (Subjects B and E), and non-weight lifters that will not practice throwing (Subject F). At the start each subject threw 5 times at 5, 10 and 15 yards in a random order at a target made up of concentric red and white circles. Horizontal (x) and vertical (y) measurements were made where the ball hit the target. Subjects A, C and D worked out with weights for 6 weeks. Subjects A, B and E practiced throwing 2-3 times per week for 6 weeks. Subject F, as the control, did no weight lifting or throwing practice for 6 weeks. Subjects were retested after the first 3 weeks and again after the 6 week period. The distance form the centre was calculated for each throw. A Two-Way ANOVA test was applied comparing Start and 3 weeks and comparing Start and 6 weeks. F values were calculated to see if any significant differences occurred.
The average distance from the centre for each subject was graphed and visually evaluated for trends. At 5 yards all subjects showed improvement in their average distance from the centre (accuracy) after 3 weeks. From 3 weeks to 6 weeks all subjects’ accuracy decreased. At 6 weeks, subjects’ accuracy was approximately the same as the start.
At 10 yards the control subject and one of the “throwing only” subjects improved their accuracy at both 3 and 6 weeks. The “weight training only” subjects’ accuracy worsened over the same time. The “weight training and throwing” subject along with the other “throwing only” subjects’ accuracy remained approximately the same.
At 15 yards the control, both “throwing only” and the “weight training and throwing” subjects’ accuracy all worsened. The “weight training only” subjects’ accuracy generally improved.
Using the Two-Way ANOVA the only significant differences that were found were for the 3 week training period, at 5 yards. The only source of variance that was significant (confidence interval of 99%) was the training period. The Two-Way ANOVA test did not find any of the above trends to be significant.
The trends that were observed could have been from sampling error.
The following factors may have affected the outcome:
 | Subjects were not randomly selected |
| Too much variation among subjects |
| Too few subjects were involved |
| Too few repetitions |
| Throwing practice could not have been long or frequent enough |
| Weight training could not have been long or frequent enough |
| The “distance from the centre” variable may not be normally distributed |
| March Break interrupted some subjects training. |