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Loaded plyometrics and short sprints with change-of-direction training enhance jumping, sprinting, agility, and balance performance of male soccer players

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Ghaith Aloui
  • Souhail Hermassi
  • Lawrence D Hayes
  • El Ghali Bouhafs
  • Mohamed Souhaiel Chelly
  • René Schwesig
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Article number5587
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>17/07/2021
<mark>Journal</mark>Applied Sciences
Issue number12
Volume11
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

This project investigated effects of 8 weeks of biweekly loaded combined plyometric and short sprint with change-of-direction training an in-season regimen of young soccer players. An experimental (n = 17, age: 16.5 ± 0.5 years, body mass: 64.5 ± 5.2 kg, height: 1.73 ± 0.07 m,) and control group (n = 17, age: 16.7 ± 0.5 years, body mass: 65.6 ± 4.8 kg, height: 1.74 ± 0.07 m) were tested pre- and post-intervention for squat-jump (SJ), countermovement-jump (CMJ), and five-jump test (5JT), 10 m and 30 m sprint performance, change-of-direction ability, and dynamic balance performance. The experimental group (EG) outperformed the control group (CG) over 8 weeks in jumping (p < 0.001; d = 0.98–1.17), 10 m sprinting (p < 0.001; d = 0.94), change-of-direction ability (p < 0.001; d = 1.24), and dynamic balance performance (p < 0.001; d = 0.53–0.74). We conclude that adding biweekly loaded plyometric with short sprints and change-of-direction training to habitual training improves athleticism of young soccer players. Therefore, loaded plyometric with short sprints and change-of-direction training should be implemented as a part of research-informed soccer training.