N1 Performance Lab  ·  Article 02  ·  Apr 2026
02
Forensic Readiness Report
BRAKING
RFD
Two Test Dates  ·  Outside Hitter Position  ·  Game Day Readiness
N1 Performance Lab
Hawkin Dynamics CMJ
Names & affiliations protected
SWC Reference Applied
The Question
ARE
THEY
GAME
DAY
READY?
2
Outside hitters from the same program.
Same position. Same demands. Same test protocol.
2
Test dates separated by six weeks.
03 April and 17 April 2026.
1
Forensic question: does the data clear them,
hold them, or send a warning the eye can't catch?
Source: Hawkin Dynamics CMJ · Averages across three trials
The Metric
BRAKING
RATE OF
FORCE DEV.
"NOT A PERFORMANCE NUMBER.
A READINESS SIGNAL."
What it measures
How rapidly the neuromuscular system generates force during the deceleration phase of the countermovement — the eccentric loading moment before propulsion begins. Force here is produced, not absorbed. The distinction changes how you train it and what it means when the number moves.
Why it matters in volleyball
An outside hitter executes approach-swing-land sequences repeatedly across five sets. Braking RFD determines how efficiently the body absorbs each landing and redirects into the next explosive effort.
Rising across test dates means
The eccentric mechanism is switching on faster. Genuine neuromuscular adaptation — not just test-day variation. The system is becoming more capable, not compensating for fatigue.
OH·A
03 April 2026  ·  Baseline
5,939
N / s  ·  Braking RFD
Starting point of the adaptation window
OH·A
17 April 2026  ·  Retest
7,251
N / s  ·  Braking RFD
+22.1% across six weeks
OH·B
03 April 2026  ·  Baseline
8,351
N / s  ·  Braking RFD
Higher baseline — stronger eccentric profile
OH·B
17 April 2026  ·  Retest
11,296
N / s  ·  Braking RFD
+35.3% — the sharpest gain on the roster
OH·A
Outside Hitter
+22.1%
5,939 → 7,251 N/s
RSI above baseline  ·  mRSI above baseline
Time to Takeoff below SWC  ·  Impulse Ratio below SWC
OH·B
Outside Hitter
+35.3%
8,351 → 11,296 N/s
RSI above baseline  ·  mRSI above baseline
Time to Takeoff below SWC  ·  Impulse Ratio below SWC
Supporting Signals
WHAT ELSE
THE DATA SAYS
17 April 2026  ·  Relative to individual baseline  ·  SWC = Smallest Worthwhile Change
RSI
OH·A
▲ Above SWC
mRSI
OH·A
▲ Above SWC
RSI
OH·B
▲ Above SWC
mRSI
OH·B
▲ Above SWC
Time To Takeoff
OH·A
▼ Below SWC  ·  Watch
Impulse Ratio
OH·A
▼ Below SWC  ·  Watch
Time To Takeoff
OH·B
▼ Below SWC  ·  Watch
Impulse Ratio
OH·B
▼ Below SWC  ·  Watch
The Forensic Read
THE BRAKE
IS LOADED.
Rising Braking RFD across both test dates is an unambiguous positive signal. The eccentric mechanism is switching on faster. The nervous system is absorbing force with greater urgency and precision than it was six weeks ago.
RSI ▲ mRSI ▲ Braking RFD ▲
The Caveat
THE LAUNCH
IS LAGGING.
Both athletes show Time to Takeoff and Impulse Ratio below baseline in the same session. The braking mechanism is moving up the force-velocity continuum — toward higher-force, shorter-duration expression. The propulsive system has not yet synchronized to the new capacity. This is mid-adaptation — not failure, not fatigue.
TTT ▼ Impulse Ratio ▼
CLEARED
Game Day Verdict
CONDITIONALLY
CLEARED.
Both Athletes  ·  Compete as Programmed
What the coaching staff watches
01
Conversion efficiency Does the braking impulse translate cleanly into propulsive output? Monitor approach velocity off the ground, not just jump height.
02
Sets 3 through 5 The efficiency gap between braking and propulsion is where fatigue-related errors surface in high-volume competitive blocks.
03
Approach timing Slightly slower first step off the ground. Fractionally lower contact point on the swing. Not visible to the eye — trackable in the data.
What Comes Next
THE NEXT
TEST DATE
ANSWERS IT.
03
"If Impulse Ratio closes the gap — this adaptation is integrating cleanly. If it does not — you have an early indicator to act on before it becomes visible in performance."
Scenario A — Adaptation Resolves
Impulse Ratio returns above baseline. Time to Takeoff tightens. The system has absorbed the new braking capacity and synchronized propulsion to match. Both athletes move from ⚠ Monitor to Stable.
Scenario B — Adaptation Plateaus
Impulse Ratio holds below baseline despite continued Braking RFD gains. The integration gap requires direct programming intervention — coupling high-load eccentric work with high-velocity propulsive training to force synchronization between the two mechanisms.
The Value of Two-Date Tracking
Not the snapshot. The trajectory. The next test date closes the diagnostic loop that this test date opened.
N1
Article 02  ·  Apr 2026
Hawkin Dynamics CMJ
Names & affiliations protected
SWC Reference Applied
N1
PERFORMANCE LAB
Forensic Athlete Data
Athlete identities and institutional affiliations protected across all published outputs
Data source: Hawkin Dynamics CMJ · Metrics averaged across three trials · SWC = Smallest Worthwhile Change
Force plate testing in the Philippines: N1 Performance Lab PH
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