title: Effect of Vertical, Horizontal, and Combined Plyometric Training on Explosive, Balance, and Endurance Performance of Young Soccer Players.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 6 weeks of vertical, horizontal, or combined vertical and horizontal plyometric training on muscle explosive, endurance, and balance performance. Forty young soccer players aged between 10 and 14 years were randomly divided into control (CG; n = 10), vertical plyometric group (VG; n = 10), horizontal plyometric group (HG; n = 10), and combined vertical and horizontal plyometric group (VHG; n = 10). Players performance in the vertical and horizontal countermovement jump with arms, 5 multiple bounds test (MB5), 20-cm drop jump reactive strength index (RSI20), maximal kicking velocity (MKV), sprint, change of direction speed (CODS), Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Yo-Yo IR1), and balance was measured. No significant or meaningful changes in the CG, apart from small change in the Yo-Yo IR1, were observed while all training programs resulted in meaningful changes in explosive, endurance, and balance performance. However, only VHG showed a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in all performance test and most meaningful training effect difference with the CG across tests. Although no significant differences in performance changes were observed between experimental groups, the VHG program was more effective compared with VG (i.e., jumps, MKV, sprint, CODS, and balance performance) and HG (i.e., sprint, CODS, and balance performance) to small effect. The study demonstrated that vertical, horizontal, and combined vertical and horizontal jumps induced meaningful improvement in explosive actions, balance, and intermittent endurance capacity. However, combining vertical and horizontal drills seems more advantageous to induce greater performance improvements.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile; 2Laboratory of Exercise Sciences, MEDS Clinic, Santiago, Chile; 3Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 4Canadian Soccer Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; 5Department of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation, University of La Frontera, Temuco, Chile; 6Family Health Center of Los Lagos, Health Promotion Program, Los Lagos, Chile; 7Laboratory of Physiology and Biomechanics, University Autónoma of Chile, Temuco, Chile; 8Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; 9Faculty of Recreation, Sport and Physical Education, University of Santo Tomás, Bogotá D.C, Colombia; and 10Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarre, Navarre, Spain.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Campillo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henriquez-Olguín
authors.forename: Cesar M P
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Meylan
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caniuqueo
authors.forename: Eduardo L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cadore
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D059385:Plyometric Exercise / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*