Scherfenberg E, Burns S. Implementing Hang Cleans for the Improvement of Vertical Jump in High School Athletes. JEPonline 2013;16(2):50-59. The focus of this study was to determine if adding hang clean (HC) to a structured weight training program can make an improvement in countermovement vertical jump (VJ). This study used high school athletes over a 6-wk period without incorporating any plyometric or jump training exercises. Six high school weight training classes performed strength training exercises 2 d·wk -1 . All six classes performed the same upper body lifts and lower body auxiliary lifts. High school student athletes (n = 173) were randomly assigned to three groups. The control group (SQG) performed 6 sets of squat (SQ) in addition to the lifts that all classes performed. Another group (CSG) performed 3 sets of HC and 3 sets of SQ. The remaining group (HCG) performed 6 sets of HC and no SQ. Pre- and postassessments of VJ were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the 6-wk study using a Vertec. The findings indicate a significant difference in VJ improvement between both the CSG (3.8 ± 4.2 cm) and HCG (2.7 ± 3.0 cm) when compared to the SQG (0.7 ± 2.2 cm). Thus, the study supported the hypothesis with larger gains in VJ height for athletes who performed HC over athletes who performed only the SQ. There was also a significant difference between the CSG and HCG leading to the recommendation to strength and conditioning coaches to implement HC equally with SQ to maximize VJ.
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