The acute effect of drop jump protocols with different volumes and recovery time on countermovement jump performance

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of (a) a drop jump (DJ) protocol with 1 set per 5 repetitions and (b) a DJ protocol with 2 sets per 5 repetitions on countermovement jump (CMJ) height performance in volleyball players at recovery times of (a) 2 minutes, (b) 6 minutes, and (c) 12 minutes. The subjects were 10 male Division I college volleyball players. They were instructed to perform a pretest of 3 CMJs and then randomly assigned to perform (a) a DJ protocol with 1 set per 5 repetitions and (b) a DJ protocol with 2 sets per 5 repetitions. After the DJ, 3 CMJs were completed in 2, 6, and 12 minutes. A 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine the differences between training volumes and recovery times in CMJ height (H(CMJ)) and maximum ground reaction force. Both DJ training volumes significantly increased the H(CMJ). The H(CMJ) at post 2 minutes was greater than those at the pretest (p = 0.008), post 6 minutes (p = 0.004), and post 12 minutes (p = 0.002). In addition, the H(CMJ) at post 6 minutes was significantly greater than that at post 12 minutes (p = 0.018). Drop jumps in lower volume (e.g., within 10 repetitions) and short recovery time (e.g., within 2 minutes) can produce a positive acute effect on CMJ performance.