OBJECTIVES: Compare overall Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) scores, risk categorisation, specific LESS errors, and double-leg jump-landing jump heights between overhead goal and no goal conditions. DESIGN: Randomised cross-over. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 76 (51% male). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants landed from a 30-cm box to 50% of their body height and immediately jumped vertically for maximum height. Participants completed three trials under two random-ordered conditions: with and without overhead goal. Group-level mean LESS scores, risk categorisation (5-error threshold), specific landing errors, and jump heights were compared between conditions. RESULTS: Mean LESS scores were greater (0.3 errors, p < 0.001) with the overhead goal, but this small difference was not clinically meaningful. Similarly, although the number of high-risk participants was greater with the overhead goal (p = 0.039), the 9.2% difference was trivial. Participants jumped 2.7 cm higher with the overhead goal (p < 0.001) without affecting the occurrence of any specific LESS errors. DISCUSSION: Performing the LESS with an overhead goal enhances sport specificity and elicits greater vertical jump performances with minimal change in landing errors and injury-risk categorisation. Adding an overhead goal to LESS might enhance its suitability for injury risk screening, although the predictive value of LESS with an overhead goal needs confirmation.

Department of Physiotherapy Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Třída Míru 177 Olomouc 771 11 Czech Republic https twitter com HanzlikovaIvana

Division of Health Engineering Computing and Science Te Huataki Waiora School of Health University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance 52 Miro Street 3116 Tauranga New Zealand

Division of Health Engineering Computing and Science Te Huataki Waiora School of Health University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance 52 Miro Street 3116 Tauranga New Zealand https twitter com KimHebertLosier

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