The Role of Instability with Plyometric Training in Sub-elite Adolescent Soccer Players

 

 Buy Article Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of plyometric training on stable (SPT) vs. highly unstable surfaces (IPT) on athletic performance in adolescent soccer players. 24 male sub-elite soccer players (age: 15±1 years) were assigned to 2 groups performing plyometric training for 8 weeks (2 sessions/week, 90 min each). The SPT group conducted plyometrics on stable and the IPT group on unstable surfaces. Tests included jump performance (countermovement jump [CMJ] height, drop jump [DJ] height, DJ performance index), sprint time, agility and balance. Statistical analysis revealed significant main effects of time for CMJ height (p<0.01, f=1.44), DJ height (p<0.01, f=0.62), DJ performance index (p<0.05, f=0.60), 0–10-m sprint time (p<0.05, f=0.58), agility (p<0.01, f=1.15) and balance (p<0.05, 0.46≤f≤1.36). Additionally, a Training group×Time interaction was found for CMJ height (p<0.01, f=0.66) in favor of the SPT group. Following 8 weeks of training, similar improvements in speed, agility and balance were observed in the IPT and SPT groups. However, the performance of IPT appears to be less effective for increasing CMJ height compared to SPT. It is thus recommended that coaches use SPT if the goal is to improve jump performance.

• References

• 1 American College of Sports Medicine . Plyometric training for children and adolescents. ACSM Position Statement. Indianapolis: Lippincott Williams &Wilkins; 2001
  Google Scholar
• 2 Bangsbo J. The physiology of soccer – with special reference to intense intermittent exercise. Acta Physiol Scand Suppl 1994; 619: 1-155
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 3 Behm DG, Colado Sanchez JC. Instability resistance training across the exercise continuum. Sports Health 2013; 5: 500-503
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 4 Buchheit M, Mendez-Villanueva A, Delhomel G, Brughelli M, Ahmaidi S. Improving repeated sprint ability in young elite soccer players: repeated shuttle sprints vs. explosive strength training. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 2715-2722
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 5 Chaouachi A, Othman AB, Hammami R, Drinkwater EJ, Behm DG. The combination of plyometric and balance training improves sprint and shuttle run performances more often than plyometric-only training with children. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 401-412
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 6 Chu DA. Jumping into plyometrics. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics; 1998
  Google Scholar
• 7 Cohen J. Statistical power for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum; 1988: 273-288
  Google Scholar
• 8 Coren S. The lateral preference inventory for measurement of handedness, footedness, eyedness, and earedness: Norms for young adults. Bull Psych Soc 1993; 31: 1-3
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 9 de Villarreal ES, Kellis E, Kraemer WJ, Izquierdo M. Determining variables of plyometric training for improving vertical jump height performance: a meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 495-506
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 10 Diallo O, Dore E, Duche P, Van Praagh E. Effects of plyometric training followed by a reduced training programme on physical performance in prepubescent soccer players. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2001; 41: 342-348
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 11 Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav Res Methods 2007; 39: 175-191
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 12 Gribble P, Hertel J. Considerations for normalizing measures of the star excursion balance test. Meas Phys Edu Exerc Sci 2003; 7: 89-100
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 13 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2014 update. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 1025-1028
  Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 14 Jeong TS, Reilly T, Morton J, Bae SW, Drust B. Quantification of the physiological loading of one week of “pre-season” and one week of “in-season” training in professional soccer players. J Sports Sci 2011; 29: 1161-1166
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 15 Kinzey SJ, Armstrong CW. The reliability of the star-excursion test in assessing dynamic balance. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1998; 27: 356-360
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 16 Komi PV. Physiological and biomechanical correlates of muscle function: effects of muscle structure and stretch-shortening cycle on force and speed. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 1984; 12: 81-121
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 17 Meylan C, Malatesta D. Effects of in-season plyometric training within soccer practice on explosive actions of young players. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 2605-2613
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 18 Michailidis Y, Fatouros IG, Primpa E, Michailidis C, Avloniti A, Chatzinikolaou A, Barbero-Alvarez JC, Tsoukas D, Douroudos II, Draganidis D, Leontsini D, Margonis K, Berberidou F, Kambas A. Plyometric’s trainability in preadolescent soccer athletes. J Strength Cond Res 2013; 27: 38-49
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 19 Mueller O, Guenther M, Krauss I, Horstmann T. Physical characterization of the Posturomed as a measuring device – Presentation of a procedure to characterize balance capabilities. Biomed Tech 2004; 49: 56-60
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 20 Oberacker LM, Davis SE, Haff GG, Witmer CA, Moir GL. The Yo-Yo IR2 test: physiological response, reliability, and application to elite soccer. J Strength Cond Res 2012; 26: 2734-2740
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 21 Prieske O, Muehlbauer T, Mueller S, Krueger T, Kibele A, Behm DG, Granacher U. Effects of surface instability on neuromuscular performance during drop jumps and landings. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 2943-2951
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 22 Ramirez-Campillo R, Andrade DC, Izquierdo M. Effects of plyometric training volume and training surface on explosive strength. J Strength Cond Res 2013; 27: 2714-2722
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 23 Ramirez-Campillo R, Meylan C, Alvarez C, Henriquez-Olguin C, Martinez C, Canas-Jamett R, Andrade DC, Izquierdo M. Effects of in-season low-volume high-intensity plyometric training on explosive actions and endurance of young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 1335-1342
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 24 Rhea MR, Alvar BA, Burkett LN, Ball SD. A meta-analysis to determine the dose response for strength development. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003; 35: 456-464
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 25 Robinson RH, Gribble PA. Support for a reduction in the number of trials needed for the star excursion balance test. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008; 89: 364-370
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 26 Rubley MD, Haase AC, Holcomb WR, Girouard TJ, Tandy RD. The effect of plyometric training on power and kicking distance in female adolescent soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 129-134
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 27 Sedano CS, Vaeyens R, Philippaerts RM, Redondo JC, de Benito AM, Cuadrado G. Effects of lower-limb plyometric training on body composition, explosive strength, and kicking speed in female soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 1714-1722
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 28 Sohnlein Q, Muller E, Stoggl T. The effect of 16 weeks plyometric training on explosive actions in early to mid-puberty elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 2105-2114
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 29 Tegner Y, Lysholm J, Lysholm M, Gillquist J. A performance test to monitor rehabilitation and evaluate anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med 1986; 14: 156-159
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 30 Thomas K, French D, Hayes PR. The effect of two plyometric training techniques on muscular power and agility in youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 332-335
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar