RESUMEN
The purpose of this investigation was (1) to test the effect of movement restriction of the free leg during unilateral vertical jump on performance and power output comparing 2 different jump techniques: flexed (Classic technique) and straight (FC Luzern technique) free leg, and (2) to test the correlation between performance and power output obtained using these 2 techniques. Twenty elite soccer players performed squat (SJ) and countermovement (CMJ) jumps on each leg. The jump height and peak power output were compared between the 2 techniques for both legs. The jump height and peak power were significantly higher for the classic test for SJ and CMJ (P < .001) with no side effects or interactions. The angular range of motion of the free leg was higher for the Classic test than for the FC Lucerne test (P < .001), with no difference in the angular range of motion of the trunk. A moderate correlation was found between the 2 techniques on peak power (SJ: r = .626; CMJ: r = .649) and jump height (SJ: r = .742; CMJ: r = .891). Consequently, FC Lucerne technique, limiting the contribution of the free leg, is more appropriate to assess lower limb strength capacities during unilateral jump test.