Introduction:
Force-velocity-power (FVP) profiling has yet to be studied in American football.

Aim of the study:
To determine (1) if optimized training based upon vertical FVP profiling could correct FVP imbalances (%FVimb); (2) if optimized training over a 6-week training program could translate into performance metrics in American football players. Secondary aims: To determine if optimized training would translate into horizontal FVP metrics and provide exploratory observations on position-specific changes.

Material and methods:
Forty-seven collegiate American football athletes (20.7 ± 1.5 years, mean ± SD) underwent pre- and post FVP profile and performance testing (countermovement vertical jump [CMJ], flying 10’s speed, 1-repetition maximum [1-RM] barbell back squat, 1-RM power clean). Based upon individualized FVP profiles, the subjects were allocated to a force-deficient (FD), velocity-deficient (VD), or well-balanced (WB) group and received 6 weeks of optimized training. Paired t-tests with Bonferroni adjustments were used

Results:
Post-intervention, %FVimb of the VD and FD groups moved toward the well-balanced category. Vertical theoretical maximum velocity (V0) was significantly improved in the VD group (21.9%, p = 0.0023), but remained unchanged in the FD and WB groups. CMJ improved by 4.2% in the FD group (p = 0.0009), but not in the VD or WB groups (p > 0.05). The optimized training improved 1-RM back squat by 5.4% in the FD group (p < 0.0001) and tended to be improved in the WB group (7.0%, p = 0.0042). Flying 10’s performance was unchanged in all groups (p > 0.05). Horizontal theoretical maximal force output and theoretical maximal power output improved in the WB and FD groups (38.3-47.0%, p < 0.0042), while the VD group tended to have improvements (26.5%, p = 0.0118).

Conclusions:
Six weeks of individualized training was sufficient to correct %FVimb, but training did not enhance sprinting. While the FVP profiling is a feasible field-based approach in American football, learning how to best apply the FVP profiling to optimize performance is needed