Eccentric Utilization Ratio: Effect of Sport and Phase of Training [Article Review]
- Whistle Performance
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
Unlocking Athlete Power: A Deep Dive into the Eccentric Utilization Ratio (EUR)
Why the Study Was Done Strength and conditioning professionals are constantly seeking reliable and valid tests to evaluate muscular performance and explosive power. Because the ability to efficiently utilize the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is a critical factor in many sports, sports scientists look for practical ways to measure it. The Eccentric Utilization Ratio (EUR)—calculated as the ratio of a countermovement jump (CMJ) to a static jump (SJ)—has been suggested as an excellent indicator of this performance.
Researchers conducted this study with a few primary goals: to compare the EUR of athletes across a variety of different sports, and to measure EUR at different phases of the training year to see if the metric is sensitive to changes in a periodized training program. Additionally, the study aimed to compare whether calculating EUR using jump height versus peak power changed the results.
Key Takeaways
Sport-Specific Demands Matter: Athletes in sports that require a greater reliance on stretch-shortening activities (like soccer, rugby, and Australian Rules Football) naturally display higher EUR values.
EUR Tracks Training Progress: EUR is not a static number; it is sensitive to the type of training an athlete is undertaking, making it a highly useful metric for tracking changes from the off-season to the preseason.
Flexible Measurement: While there are some statistical differences, measuring EUR by either jump height or peak power provides practitioners with essentially the same valuable information regarding an athlete's performance.
The Results The researchers tested a total of 142 male and female athletes from rugby union, Australian Rules Football, soccer, softball, and field hockey. The athletes performed unweighted CMJs and SJs without an arm swing to standardize the test.
Comparing Sports: The data revealed large differences between sports when using the jump height method. For men, the EUR for soccer, Australian Rules Football, and rugby was significantly greater than for softball (with a large effect size ranging from 0.83 to 0.92). For women, the EUR for soccer was greater than for field hockey and softball.
Comparing Training Phases: The study found that EUR values significantly increased from the off-season to the preseason for field hockey and rugby athletes. For instance, field hockey players saw their peak power EUR jump from 1.05 in the off-season to 1.26 in the preseason. This jump likely reflects the increased volume of power training and SSC activities that athletes typically undergo right before their competitive season begins.
Jump Height vs. Peak Power: There was a significant difference between using the jump height method and the peak power method for Australian Rules Football, rugby, and field hockey during preseason testing.
Practical Application for Sport Performance Coaches Monitoring an athlete's training status over time is one of the most important jobs of a strength and conditioning professional. This study proves that the EUR provides a simple, effective tool to monitor an athlete's SSC performance across various sports.
Because EUR is sensitive to the stage of the annual periodized plan, coaches can use it to track whether their power and plyometric training blocks are actually working. If an athlete's EUR increases from the off-season to the preseason, it is a strong indicator that their reactive strength and y to utilize elastic energy are improving.
Finally, the beauty of EUR is its accessibility. It relies on a simple manipulation of data that most teams routinely collect anyway (vertical jump performance). Coaches can calculate the EUR using either jump height or peak power output and be confident they are gathering reliable insights into their athletes' readiness and power development.
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