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Plyometrics' trainability in preadolescent soccer athletes
Yiannis Michailidis1, Ioannis G Fatouros, Eleni Primpa
1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|March 28, 2012
Summary
Preadolescent boys show significant improvements in explosive power and athletic performance with plyometric training (PT). Supplementing soccer practice with PT enhances speed, jumping ability, and kicking distance in young athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Pediatric Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Plyometric training (PT) is recognized for enhancing explosive muscle power.
- The trainability of preadolescent boys with PT remains an area requiring further investigation.
- Optimizing athletic development in young athletes necessitates understanding effective training methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the plyometric trainability in preadolescent boys.
- To compare the effects of plyometric training combined with soccer practice versus soccer practice alone.
- To assess the impact of plyometric training on various measures of athletic performance in young males.
Main Methods:
- Forty-five preadolescent boys were divided into a control group (soccer only) and a plyometric training group (soccer + PT).
- The plyometric training program included hopping, jumping, and agility drills performed twice weekly for 12 weeks.
- Performance metrics including speed, leg power, leg strength, anaerobic power, and soccer-specific skills were assessed at baseline, mid-training, and post-training.
Main Results:
- The plyometric training group demonstrated significant improvements (p < 0.05) in speed, vertical jump, standing long jump, multiple bound hopping, leg strength, agility, and kicking distance.
- Improvements in the plyometric training group ranged from 2.6% to 28% across various performance measures.
- The control group showed only modest increases in speed (1.2-1.8%), and anaerobic power was unaffected in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Preadolescent boys possess considerable plyometric trainability, indicating a high capacity for developing explosive power.
- Supplementing regular soccer practice with a structured plyometric training protocol significantly enhances athletic performance in young male athletes.
- Plyometric training is an effective intervention for improving key physical attributes relevant to soccer performance in preadolescent boys.
