Effect of Plyometric Training on Jumping, Sprinting and Change of Direction Speed in Child Female Athletes.

Gregory Bogdanis,Olyvia Donti,William Sands,Athanasia Papia,Anastasia Donti,Nikolaos Apostolidis

doi:10.3390/sports7050116

Gregory Bogdanis, Olyvia Donti + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7050116

Copy DOI

Abstract

Background: This study examined the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric training on jumping, sprinting, and change of direction (COD) performance. Methods: Fifty female 7–9-year-old gymnasts were randomly assigned to a plyometric training group (PG; n = 33), that performed supplementary plyometric training twice per week, and a control group (CG; n = 17) that continued regular training. The following tests were performed before and after the intervention: 10 and 20 m sprints, 5 + 5 m and 10 + 10 m COD tests, one-leg and two-leg countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), squat jump (SJ), and standing long jump (SLJ). Results: Only a main effect for time was found for all jumping performance parameters (p = 0.001). However, the improvement of one- and two-leg CMJ in PG had a greater effect size than CG (0.72 and 0.67 vs. 0.34 and 0.18, respectively). Group × time interactions were found for 10 and 20 m sprint tests (p = 0.018 and p = 0.011, respectively) and for 10 + 10 m COD (p = 0.008) with the post hoc test showing improvement only for the PG (p = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.003 and d = 1.1, 1.14, and 0.6, respectively). Conclusions: Supplementary plyometric training increased sprint and COD performance more than regular gymnastics training, while jumping performance was equally improved in both groups.

Highlights

Leg muscle power and sprinting ability are important performance parameters in several youth sports [1,2]
drop jump (DJ), squat jump (SJ), and standing long jump (SLJ) were improved in both groups, suggesting that plyometric training did not cause an additional improvement of these types of jumps
The present study showed that both groups of gymnasts increased SJ, DJ, SLJ, and Reactive strength index (RSI) performance from their respective baselines, suggesting that the supplementary plyometric training did not offer additional improvements compared to gymnastics training, following a short training period

Summary

Introduction

Leg muscle power and sprinting ability are important performance parameters in several youth sports [1,2]. Adaptations to sprint training are more variable, showing an initial spurt during the ages of 5–9 years, which is followed by a second period of rapid improvement during puberty and beyond [2,4]. A more complex fitness component associated with straight line sprinting, muscular power, and motor coordination, is the change of direction (COD) speed [5]. Plyometric training is effective in increasing sprinting and jumping ability, reactive strength, and COD in prepubertal athletes [7,8]. This study examined the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric training on jumping, sprinting, and change of direction (COD) performance. Conclusions: Supplementary plyometric training increased sprint and COD performance more than regular gymnastics training, while jumping performance was improved in both groups

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion