Comparative and Interactive Effects of Land-and Aquatic-Based Plyometric Training on Agility and Peak Speed of Elite Young Athletes of the: Sporting Environment

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of a six-week land-and aquatic-based plyometric training on agility and peak speed of elite young athletes.24 male elite young athletes (with average and standard deviation age of 19.16 ± 1.30 year., height 1.715 ± 8.826 m, weight 59.45 ± 8.93 kg) were tested at the beginning of the season. All subjects, after having been informed about the objective and protocol of the study, gave their written consents and the study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee of Faculty of Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy and Directorate of Sports, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. The subjects were randomly assigned into three groups: Land- based plyometric training group (L; n = 08), Aquatic-based plyometric training group(A; n = 08), and control (C; n = 08). Land-and aquatic-based plyometric training group was subjected to 6-weeks plyometric training twice a week for 35 minutes a day.505 agility test was used to monitor the development of the athlete's speed and agility whereas peak speed test was used to monitor the development of the athlete‘s ability to effectively and efficiently build up acceleration, from standing blocks, to maximum speed. It is concluded that the use of aquatic and land training program is not only to break the monotony of training, but they can also improve the strength of athletes, that ultimately leads to the optimal performance in the sports competition.