title: The effect of two plyometric training techniques on muscular power and agility in youth soccer players.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two plyometric training techniques on power and agility in youth soccer players. Twelve males from a semiprofessional football club's academy (age = 17.3 +/- 0.4 years, stature = 177.9 +/- 5.1 cm, mass = 68.7 +/- 5.6 kg) were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of depth jump (DJ) or countermovement jump (CMJ) training twice weekly. Participants in the DJ group performed drop jumps with instructions to minimize ground-contact time while maximizing height. Participants in the CMJ group performed jumps from a standing start position with instructions to gain maximum jump height. Posttraining, both groups experienced improvements in vertical jump height (p < 0.05) and agility time (p < 0.05) and no change in sprint performance (p > 0.05). There were no differences between the treatment groups (p > 0.05). The study concludes that both DJ and CMJ plyometrics are worthwhile training activities for improving power and agility in youth soccer players.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sport Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom. kevin2.thomas@northumbria.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*