The effects of maturation on jumping ability and sprint adaptations to plyometric training in youth soccer players

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maturation on power and sprint performance adaptations following 6 weeks of plyometric training in youth soccer players during pre-season. Sixty male soccer players were categorized into 3 maturity groups (Pre, Mid and Post peak height velocity [PHV]) and then randomly assigned to plyometric group and control group. Vertical jump, standing long jump, and 20-m sprint (with and without ball) tests were collected before- and after-intervention. After the intervention, the Pre, Mid and Post-PHV groups showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) and small to moderate effect size (ES) improvement in vertical jump (ES = 0.48; 0.57; 0.73), peak power output (E = 0.60; 0.64; 0.76), standing long jump (ES = 0.62; 0.65; 0.7), 20-m sprint (ES = −0.58; −0.66), and 20-m sprint with ball (ES = −0.44; −0.8; −0.55) performances. The Post-PHV soccer players indicated greater gains than Pre-PHV in vertical jump and sprint performance after training (P ≤ 0.05). Short-term plyometric training had positive effects on sprinting and jumping-power which are important determinants of match-winning actions in soccer. These results indicate that a sixty foot contact, twice per week program, seems effective in improving power and sprint performance in youth soccer players.

KEYWORDS:

• Stretch-shortening cycle
• football
• peak height velocity
• strength training
• acceleration

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the participants of this study for having performed maximal efforts until volitional fatigue. There is no financial support for this project. No funds were received for this study from National Institutes of Health, Welcome Trust, University, or others.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.