
Can Jump Tests Replace Squats? — with Mary Claire Geneau
From Evidence Strong | Weightlifting Science by Evidence Strong
April 7, 2026 · 21 min · Episode 135
About this episode
Dr. Mary Claire Geneau discusses the comparison between jump tests and back squats for strength testing in sports.
🏋️♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/154060814 🏋️♀️ Strength testing is gaining popularity in many sports nowadays. With wider availability in measurement technologies, strength testing is also becoming fast and easy. But the thing is, sometimes it is too much data to handle. You could be testing hundreds of tasks, but you probably shouldn't. Dr. Mary Claire Geneau compared back squat and jump tests (loaded and unloaded) to see if one can be eliminated but still deliver the information coaches need. Mary Claire (MC) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the University of Victoria and Canadian Sport Institute-Pacific, and is a sport scientist with the Professional Women's Hockey League in Vancouver, BC. MC has over a decade of S&C and sport science experience, working with several Canadian national teams, including soccer, volleyball, rowing, freestyle skiing, field hockey, and triathlon. MC’s PhD research focused on the analytical and practical aspects of lower-body strength diagnosis using force platforms, and her current research focuses on leveraging wearable and microsensor technologies to quantify athlete load and performance…
People in this episode
Host: Evidence Strong
Guest: Mary Claire Geneau
Topics covered
- strength testing
- jump tests
- back squat
- sports science
- athlete performance
Keywords
- strength testing
- jump tests
- back squat
- sports science
- athlete performance
- wearable technology
- force platforms
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Victoria, Canadian Sport Institute-Pacific, Professional Women's Hockey League, Biomechanics
More episodes of Evidence Strong | Weightlifting Science
- The Biomechanics That Separate Elite Weightlifters — with Paul Arauz · June 10, 2026 · 19 min
- How to Choose Cleans, Pulls, and Jumps for Power Training – with Sei Takei · June 3, 2026 · 26 min
- Menopause and Strength Training: What Really Changes? — with Luke Pelton · May 27, 2026 · 37 min
- A Fairer Way to Compare Weightlifters Across Weight Classes and Sexes – with Marianne Huebner · May 20, 2026 · 26 min
- What Successful Split Jerks Have in Common — with Hideyuki Nagao · May 13, 2026 · 6 min
- Is the Vitruve Device Actually Accurate for VBT? With Juan Garcia Lopez · May 6, 2026 · 12 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Evidence Strong | Weightlifting Science podcast page.