A firefighter recruit is seeking to improve performance on the 20 m fire hose drag. Which exercise is most appropriate according to the principle of specificity?

The principle of specificity states that training adaptations are specific to the type of exercise being performed. This principle emphasizes that the exercises used during training should closely match the demands of the performance task being evaluated.

In this case, the 20 m fire hose drag mimics the act of pulling a heavy object over a distance, which requires both strength and muscular endurance in a horizontal movement pattern. The weighted sled pull closely simulates this action as it involves pulling a load across a surface, effectively training the muscles used in the drag, particularly those in the legs, core, and upper body.

Other exercises, while beneficial for overall strength, do not replicate the specific movement pattern and energy demands of a fire hose drag as effectively as the weighted sled pull. One-arm dumbbell rows target pulling strength but not in a way that mirrors the dragging motion. The barbell push-press and bench press involve vertical pushing movements, which do not reflect the horizontal pulling action required in the hose drag. Therefore, the weighted sled pull is the most suitable choice for preparing for the specific performance task at hand.