The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric training on the ability to change direction and postural control in female basketball players. 25 national level female basketball players aged 18–27 years participated in the study. Volunteers were randomly assigned to an experimental group ( n = 13) who replaced a part of their standard regimen by plyometric training twice weekly for 8 weeks, and a control group ( n = 12) who continued their usual in-season training program. Before and after the intervention, the ability to change direction and postural control were assessed by force platform under both static and dynamic conditions (with the eyes open and then closed). Isokinetic testing was also performed to calculate the Hamstring/Quadriceps (H/Q) strength ratio. The intervention improved ability to change direction ( p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.51) and shortened path length ( p = 0.038, d = 0.937) during static balance testing. However, it did not yield significant inter-group differences in postural control in the antero-posterior plane. The stance in the medio-lateral plane seemed the most responsive to the intervention, with reductions in surface area ( p = 0.012, d = 0.285), velocity with the eyes closed ( p = 0.031, d = 0.968), and path length with the eyes open ( p = 0.029, d = 0.968). The intervention did not change the H/Q ratio at the two speeds tested (60° and 120°.s –1 ). In summary, the addition of 8 weeks plyometric training to the usual in-season basketball regimen of top-level female basketball players enhanced their ability to change direction and reduced the risk of falls and injuries by improving postural control, but did not increase the H/Q measure of knee stability.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week in-season plyometric training (PT) program on the physical performance and neuromuscular adaptations of female basketball players. Twenty-seven elite female basketball players (aged 21.0 ± 2.6 years) were assigned between an experimental group (n = 15) who substituted a part of their usual training with biweekly PT, and a control group (n = 12) who maintained their standard basketball training. Analyses of variance and co-variance assessed changes in 10, 20, and 30 m sprint times, ability to change direction (T-test) and jumping ability [squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ)] with electromyographic assessment of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles during jumping and meassurement of the isokinetic strength of the knee muscles. After 8 weeks of the plyometric program the experimental group enhanced change of direction performance (Δ = −3.90%, d = 0.67) and showed a greater thigh cross sectional area (Δ = 9.89%, d = 0.95) relative to controls. Neural adaptations included significant improvements of EMG parameters for the vastus medialis muscle during Squat Jumping (Δ = 109.3%, d = 0.59). However, trends to improvements of sprinting times and jumping performances did not reach statistical significance. In addition, there were no gains in the peak torque and the average power of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles at either slow or moderate test speeds. We conclude that 8-weeks of PT (72–126 jumps) was insufficient to improve many of the variables associated with basketball performance in our subject-group. Further studies of female basketball players, extending the program period and increasing the intensity and speed of jumps are recommended in the search for more significant results.

This study examined the effects of incorporating 8 weeks of bi-weekly lower limb elastic band based loaded plyometric training into the in-season regimen of junior handball players. Participants were assigned between control (n = 15, age: 18.1 ± 0.5 years, body mass: 73.7 ± 13.9 kg, height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m, body fat: 14.4 ± 6.0%) and experimental groups (n = 14, age: 17.7 ± 0.3 years, body mass: 76.8 ± 10.7 kg, height: 1.83 ± 0.04 m, body fat: 13.4 ± 3.8%). Measures obtained before and after the intervention included a cycle ergometer force-velocity test, squat and countermovement jump characteristics, sprints times, repeated change of direction and change of direction tests (COD), a 1-RM half-back squat, and anthropometric estimates of limb volumes. Gains in the experimental group relative to controls included absolute muscle power (W) (Δ 23.1%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.565), relative muscle power (W.kg–1) (Δ 22.1%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.573), sprint times over 5 and 30 m (Δ−8.7%; p < 0.01; ES = 0.921 and Δ−7.2%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.573, respectively), COD times (Δ−9.2%; p < 0.05; ES = 0.561) and all repeated COD parameters except the fatigue index. However, a significant improvement by time interaction was observed in both groups on some anthropometric parameters (leg muscle volume and surface section thigh max), 1-RM half- back squat and vertical jump performance. We conclude that bi-weekly elastic band-loaded plyometric training improves the ability to sprint, COD and repeated COD relative to regular training, and thus it can be recommended to young male team handball players as a new method of plyometric training to improve important elements of their physical performance.

This study aimed to examine the effects of incorporating 10-week elastic band strength training (EBST) program on change of direction, jumping ability, repeated sprint ability, and both muscular strength and power in adolescent female handball players. Participants aged 15.8 ± 0.2 years were divided by playing position, and players from each position were then randomly assigned between the elastic strength (n = 17) and control (n = 17) groups. The experimental group performed periodized upper and lower-body elastic band strength training twice weekly for ten weeks by substitution of some of their regular physical and game preparation. The control group only performed regular handball training. Two-way analyses of variance (group × time) assessed change of direction (COD) via the modified t-agility test, squat jump, countermovement jump, standing long jump, repeated sprint ability (RSA), 1-RM bench press and half squat, and cycle ergometer force-velocity tests for both upper and lower limbs. Relative to the control group, the experimental group enhanced COD performance [p < 0.001; Cohen's effect size (d) = 1.00]; squat and countermovement jump (p = 0.002, d ≥ 0.83), best, mean, and total RSA scores (all p < 0.001, d = 0.92–1.66), 1-RM bench press (p = 0.02, d = 0.59) and half squat (p = 0.009, d = 0.67), all indices of upper limb force-velocity performance (p ≤ 0.025, d = 0.56–1.66), and 3 of 4 indices of lower limb force-velocity performance (p ≤ 0.004, d = 0.75–0.92). We conclude that additional elastic band training performed twice a week for ten weeks improves measures relevant to handball game performance in adolescent female athletes.

This study examined the effect of 10-week complex strength training with elastic band program on fitness components in young female handball players. Thirty-eight handball players aged 15.8 ± 0.2 years were randomly assigned to an experimental group or control group. The experimental group performed complex strength training with elastic band twice a week over 10 weeks, which included 8 workshops of progressing set length (number of sets) and band resistance for each specific exercise. Sessions were lasted approximately 35 min. The control group maintained regular in-season training. Tests included handgrip; back extensor; medicine ball throw; 30 m sprint times; Modified Illinois change-of-direction (Illinois-MT); four jump tests (squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with arms and five jump test; static (stork test) and dynamic (Y balance test) balance; and repeated sprint T-test. The experimental group enhanced all strength performance (handgrip right ( p < 0.001), handgrip left ( p < 0.001), back extensor strength ( p < 0.001) and medicine ball throw ( p < 0.001) compared to the controls); sprint performance (5 m ( p<0.001), 10 m ( p < 0.001), 20 m ( p < 0.001), and 30 m ( p < 0.001)); the change of direction (Illinois-MT ( p < 0.001)); jump performance (squat jump ( p < 0.001), countermovement jump ( p < 0.001), countermovement jump with arms ( p < 0.001), and five jump test ( p < 0.01)); and the repeated sprint T-test scores ( p<0.001in all scores). In contrast, no significant difference in both static and dynamic balance performance between experimental group and control group. Ten weeks of complex strength training with elastic band improve fitness components measures in young female handball players then habitual training.