Optimizing the Explosive Force of the Elite Level Football-Tennis Players through Plyometric and Specific Exercises

Abstract

The aim of the research was to implement an athletic program to improve the explosive force in order to optimize physical fitness at the level of elite football-tennis players and evaluate the progress made through specific tests using the Opto Jump. The research included 10 elite European and world-class players, on whom an experimental program was applied in order to improve the explosive force of the limbs in conditions of speed, endurance, and dynamic balance. Study tests: five vertical jumps on the spot, on the left/right leg; five back and forth jumps on the left/right leg; five left/right side jumps on the left/right leg; vertical jumps on both legs 60 s; BFS vertical jumps. For each test, the following parameters specific to the explosive force were statistically analyzed: contact time (s); flight time (s); jump height (cm), jump power (w/kg); RSI—Reactive Strength Index, defined as Height (m/s). In the study, the average value of the parameters specific to the jumps performed in each test was taken into account. During the study, the tests were performed and processed on the Opto Jump device and software. In all tests of the experiment monitored through Opto Jump, significant progress was made in the final test compared to the initial one, which demonstrates the efficiency of the physical training program implemented for the development of explosive force, with an impact on the sports performance of elite players. The most relevant results obtained for the left leg regarding the improvement of the explosive force of the lower limbs materialized in the jump height parameter was in the test of five vertical jumps on one leg on the spot, and for the right leg in the tests of: five back and forth jumps and five left/right side jumps. The most significant advances in the study were in the tests, in descending order of their weight: 60 s vertical jumps on both legs; five back-and-forth jumps and five left/right side jumps, five vertical jumps on one leg standing, and BFS vertical jumps.

The Effects of 8 Aerobic Endurance Training Weeks of 4vs.4+GK Small-Sided Games versus Traditional Training on Physical Fitness and Skills among U18 Football Players

“…Thus, the authors concluded that HIIT is not superior to constant intensity endurance training (CIET) in improving aerobic or anaerobic parameters in adolescents. The research regarding the importance of SSG on the optimization of sports performance in sports games in general [54][55][56][57][58], and in football in particular, is numerous, as is made evident by their positive impact on psychological, physical, tactical and technical skills in the sports training process and in competitive games, for all age groups [59][60][61][62][63][64][65].…”

Effects of menstrual cycle phases on elasticity index in female soccer players

“…In order to perform CMJ and SJ tests and obtain the jump height in centimetres, an Optojump TX10 (Bolzano, Italy) was used. This system, consisting of a transmitting and a receiving bar, allows measuring flight and contact times (Santos-Lozano et al, 2014), is portable, and adjustable to limited spaces (Gherghel et al, 2021).…”

Dynamic stretching versus plyometric push up training on upper body performance in cricketers

“…Plyometric exercises involve skips, hops, jumps, throws, and bounds. All these exercises improve the agility of an athlete, which is defined as the capability of a body to diligently change the position and direction of a body and move towards another position [6][7][8]. At first plyometric exercises were used for the enhancement of sports performance and rehabilitation of sports injuries numerous sports performance [9].…”