Impact of plyometric training on sprint and agility performance in college-level futsal athletes: a comparative study using hurdle jumps and box jumps

The primary objective of this study is to analyze the effects of plyometric training on sprint and agility performance in college athletes, focusing on hurdle jumps and box jumps as interventions. A total of 45 college athletes were selected based on their participation in regular sports training. They were divided into three groups: Group Hurdle Jump (GHJ), Group Box Jump (GBJ), and a Control Group (GCR). The plyometric training program lasted for 12 weeks, with the GHJ and GBJ groups completing specific plyometric exercises, while the GCR group followed their usual training regimen without additional interventions. The results showed significant improvements in both sprint speed and agility in the intervention groups. In the GHJ group, sprint performance improved from 3.18 ± 0.32 seconds (pretest) to 2.79 ± 0.29 seconds (posttest) (p = 0.01), while agility improved from 12.21 ± 0.67 seconds to 10.20 ± 0.43 seconds (p = 0.01). Similarly, the GBJ group demonstrated improvements in sprint performance from 3.15 ± 0.43 seconds to 2.98 ± 0.13 seconds (p = 0.05), and agility performance from 12.43 ± 0.82 seconds to 11.01 ± 0.39 seconds (p = 0.05). In contrast, the Control Group (GCR) did not show statistically significant changes in either sprint or agility performance, with p-values of 0.34 and 0.63, respectively. These findings suggest that targeted plyometric exercises, particularly hurdle jumps and box jumps, play a crucial role in enhancing sprint and agility performance in college athletes. The study also highlights the effectiveness of the Smartspeed timing system in accurately measuring performance changes in these parameters. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impacts of such training programs on various sports disciplines.