The study aimed to identify the effect of plyometric training, when added to habitual training regimes, on swim start performance. Following the completion of a baseline competitive swim start, 22 adolescent swimmers were randomised assigned to either a plyometric training (PT; n =11, age: 13.1 ± 1.4 yrs, mass: 50.6 ± 12.3 kg, stature: 162.9 ± 11.9 cm) or habitual training group (HT: n =11, age: 12.6 ± 1.9 yrs, mass:43.3 ± 11.6 kg, stature: 157.6 ± 11.9 cm). Over an 8-week pre-season period, HT group continued with their normal training programme, whilst the PT group added two additional 1-hr plyometric-specific sessions, incorporating prescribed exercises relating to the swimming block start (SBS). Following completion of the training intervention, post-training swim start performance was re-assessed. For both baseline and post-trials, swim performance was recorded using videography (50Hz Canon performance outcome, the current study has found that inclusion of suitable and safely implemented plyometric training to adolescent performers, in addition to habitual training routines, can have a positive impact on swim start performance.

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Static Stretching prior to sport has been shown to decrease force production in comparison to the increasing popularity of dynamic warm-up methods. However some athletes continue to use a bout of static stretching following dynamic methods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on speed, agility and power following a period of additional static stretching following a dynamic warm-up routine. Twenty-five male University students who participated in team sports performed two warm-up protocols concentrating on the lower body one week apart through a randomised cross over design. The Dynamic Warm-up (DW) protocol used a series of specific progressive exercises lasting 10 minutes over a distance of 20m. The Dynamic Warm-up plus Static Stretching (DWS) protocol used the same DW protocol followed by a 5 minute period during which 7 muscle groups were stretched. Following each warm-up the subjects performed a countermovement vertical jump, 20m sprint and Illinois agility test, 1 minute apart. The results demonstrated no significant differences in speed, agility and jump performance following the two protocols DW and DWS. The study concludes that performing static stretching following a dynamic warm-up prior to performance does not affect speed, agility and vertical jump performance

This study aimed to determine the effect of plyometric training (PT) when added to habitual gymnastic training (HT) on handspring vault (HV) performance variables. Twenty youth female competitive gymnasts (Age: 12.5 ± 1.67 y) volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to two independent groups. The experimental plyometric training group (PTG) undertook a six-week plyometric program, involving two additional 45 min PT sessions a week, alongside their HT, while the control group (CG) performed regular HT only. Videography was used (120 Hz) in the sagittal plane to record both groups performing three HVs for both the baseline and post-intervention trials. Furthermore, participants completed a countermovement jump test (CMJ) to assess the effect of PT on functional power. Through the use of Quintic biomechanics software, significant improvements (P < 0.05) were found for the PTG for run-up velocity, take-off velocity, hurdle to board distance, board contact time, table contact time and post-flight time and CMJ height. However, there were no significant improvements on pre-flight time, shoulder angle or hip angle on the vault for the PTG. The CG demonstrated no improvement for all HV measures. A sport-specific PT intervention improved handspring vault performance measures and functional power when added to the habitual training of youth female gymnasts. The additional two hours plyometric training seemingly improved the power generating capacity of movement-specific musculature, which consequently improved aspects of vaulting performance. Future research is required to examine the whether the improvements are as a consequence of the additional volume of sprinting and jumping activities, as a result of the specific PT method or a combination of these factors.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of complex-paired and reverse-contrast 10-week training programs on sprint, power, and change-of-direction speed performance of elite academy soccer players. Methods: Seventeen elite academy soccer players each performed assessments of the 10- and 40-m sprint, Abalakov vertical jump, seated medicine-ball throw, and Arrowhead change-of-direction speed test, both prior to and after a twice-weekly 10-week resistance-training program. The participants were randomly split into 2 groups; the complex-paired training group (CPT, n = 9) performed 4 different complex pairs (heavy-resistance exercises paired with plyometric and Olympic lifting–style exercises), with each pair being interspersed with an 8-minute recovery period in line with recommended guidelines. The comparative group—the reverse-contrast training group (RCT, n = 8)—performed the same exercises; however, all of the plyometric and Olympic lifting exercises preceded the heavy-resistance exercises. Results: Both groups achieved postintervention increases in the seated medicine-ball throw test (CPT +1.8% and RCT +1.6%, P < .05), whereas VJ performance improved only in the CPT group (+3.4%, P = .003). No significant improvements were observed in either the 10- and the 40-m sprint or Arrowhead change-of-direction speed test for either group. Conclusions: The CPT experienced a small but significant within-group improvement in jump performance. However, no significant between-groups differences were observed in any of the testing variables postintervention. Subsequently, for academy soccer athletes, the CPT approach did not produce meaningful benefits to performance compared with a more time-efficient reverse-contrast approach.