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

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-10, Vol.18 (19), p.10446
• Main Authors: Aloui, Ghaith, Hermassi, Souhail, Khemiri, Aymen, Bartels, Thomas, Hayes, Lawrence D, Bouhafs, El Ghali, Souhaiel Chelly, Mohamed, Schwesig, René
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anaerobiosis; Aquatic birds; Athletic Performance; Body fat; Body mass; Exercise; Humans; Interval training; Jumping; Male; Muscle Strength; Physical fitness; Players; Plyometric Exercise; Soccer
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910446

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 ( = 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 ( = 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 < 0.05; d ≥ 0.61), sprint (all < 0.05; d ≥ 0.58), change-of-direction (CoD) ability (all < 0.05; d ≥ 0.58), RCoD (all parameters except the fatigue index < 0.01; effect size (d) ≥ 0.71), and static balance (all < 0.05; d ≥ 0.66) improvement. Adding twice-weekly CPSCoD training to standard training improves the anaerobic performance of U15 male soccer players.