An 8-Week Program of Plyometrics and Sprints with Changes of Direction Improved Anaerobic Fitness in Young Male Soccer Players

Abstract

This study examined the effects of 8 weeks of twice-weekly combined plyometric and sprint with change-of-direction (CPSCoD) training into habitual training regimes of young male soccer players. Participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 17, age: 14.6 ± 0.44 years, body mass: 61.2 ± 7.34 kg, height: 1.67 ± 0.09 m, body fat: 11.2 ± 1.56%) and a control group (n = 16, age: 14.6 ± 0.39 years, body mass: 61.1 ± 3.96 kg, height: 1.67 ± 0.05 m, body fat: 11.8 ± 1.47%). Measures obtained pre- and post intervention included vertical and horizontal jump performance (i.e., squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and standing long jump (SLJ)), and sprint performance (i.e., 5 m and 20 m sprint). In addition, Measures obtained pre- and post-intervention included change-of-direction ability (4 × 5 m sprint test (S 4 × 5 m) and sprint 9–3–6–3–9 m with backward and forward running (SBF)), repeated change of direction (RCoD), and static balance performance (stork balance test). The training group experienced superior jump (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.61), sprint (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.58), change-of-direction (CoD) ability (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.58), RCoD (all parameters except the fatigue index p < 0.01; effect size (d) ≥ 0.71), and static balance (all p < 0.05; d ≥ 0.66) improvement. Adding twice-weekly CPSCoD training to standard training improves the anaerobic performance of U15 male soccer players.

Effects of Combined Horizontal Plyometric and Change of Direction Training on Anaerobic Parameters in Youth Soccer Players

“…However, this was not the aim of this study. The findings of the present study agree with those of recent research [ 9 , 22 , 23 , 25 ]. However, there are also studies that did not observe an improvement in the performance of COD ability after a plyometric program combined with COD exercises [ 7 ].…”

“…For this reason, it is a factor that is studied extensively. Recent literature reports the positive effect of plyometrics on speed indicators [ 8 , 9 , 39 ] and combined programs of plyometrics with a change of direction sprints [ 22 , 23 , 25 , 39 ]. However, in the present study, no improvement was observed at 10 m and 30 m.…”

“…So, plyometric exercises are very often combined with sprinting and change of direction exercises. In recent years, researchers’ intervention programs combine plyometric exercises with short sprints or with sprints and changes of direction [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ], observing positive effects on the performance of young athletes (U17–U19) in anaerobic tests. However, the studies that applied a combined plyometric and sprint program with changes of direction in young soccer are limited, which may be due to the high intensity for which both types of training are characterized.…”

Fitness, Fatness, and Academic Attainment in Male Schoolchildren from a Soccer Academy

“…Other aspects of successful performance in team sports such as handball, rugby, volleyball, and basketball depend on the cooperation of team players to score more goals/points than the opposing team. All these team sports involve brief periods of high-intensity activity interspersed with lower-intensity activities that support play as well as provide brief recovery opportunities [ 15 ]. Concerning fatness, recent studies have suggested that anthropometric measurements might be related to physical fitness components in team sports [ 16 ].…”

Combined Plyometric and Short Sprint Training in U-15 Male Soccer Players: Effects on Measures of Jump, Speed, Change of Direction, Repeated Sprint, and Balance

“…Recently, combination training appears en vogue and is an efficacious tool for improving athletic performance. In this context, all of the combined sprint and plyometric (Ferley et al, 2020;Hammami et al, 2020;Kargarfard et al, 2020), agility and balance (Zemková and Hamar, 2010), plyometric and change-ofdirection (Makhlouf et al, 2018;Hammami et al, 2019;Aloui et al, 2021), plyometric and sled (Prieto et al, 2021), balance and plyometric (Bouteraa et al, 2020;Guo et al, 2021), and plyometric and resistance (Almoslim, 2016;Ramirez-Campillo et al, 2018a;Fischetti et al, 2019) training programs have been effective to enhance muscle power. In addition, some recent research has indicated that combined training is superior to stand-alone approaches for increasing power and output capabilities (Chaouachi et al, 2014;Beato et al, 2018;Zghal et al, 2019;Ferley et al, 2020;Guo et al, 2021).…”