Effect of 8 weeks of plyometric and resisted sled sprint training on vertical jump and sprint performances of amateur football players

Abstract

The present study analyzed the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric training and resisted sled sprint training in the vertical jump (SJ and CMJ) and 30-meter dash test (with partial time at 10 meters) performances of amateur footballers. The study included two experimental groups performing just one of the two training regimes and a control group. In the final design, 26 football players with an average age of 21.38 ± 2.53 years, an average height of 177.22 ± 6.19 cm and an average body weight of 78.78 ± 12.13 kg participated. The training program consisted of two days of training for the plyometrics and resisted sled sprint training groups respectively, performed for 8 consecutive weeks with a different load between the first 4 weeks and the last 4 increasing the weight on the sled and height and distance between hurdles. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between groups after the 8 weeks of training, however, in the descriptive analysis, several positive changes in the performances of the different tests appeared.