Comparing the Effects of the Barbell Deadlift and the Plyometric Depth Jump on Vertical Jump Height in Division II Female Collegiate Athletes: A 6-Week Study

Abstract

Vertical jump performance is vital to many sports and is predictive of power output. Both resistance exercises and plyometric exercises have been shown to increase vertical jump performance. Identifying the type of exercise that increases jump height the most may be useful to coaches and athletes worldwide. The literature has stated that both resistance and plyometric exercises are used in many athletic training programs; however, the plyometric depth jump is often underutilized to increase vertical jump height. This study compares the effects of two types of exercises (plyometric depth jump and traditional deadlift) on vertical leap height in female collegiate athletes. Eleven women’s basketball players and 15 women’s softball players performed a 6-week training study. The depth jump group (n = 11) and the deadlift group (n = 15) trained three times per week. Both groups improved in vertical jump height, but the depth jump group had a greater increase, which was nearly significant (p = .061). The findings show that the implementation of plyometric exercises, such as the depth jump, into training programs could lead to a greater increase in muscular power and vertical jump height than resistance exercises alone.