Assessment of explosive force and agility in U19 soccer players following a high-intensity interval training program utilizing plyometric exercises

Aims: This study aimed to assess the impact of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program incorporating plyometric exercises on explosive force and agility performance in U17 soccer players. Methods: Twenty healthy male soccer players from the G.S.M team volunteered for the study and provided informed consent. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a Control Group (CG) comprising 10 players who continued regular soccer training (Age: 17.6 ± 0.52 years; Height: 183 ± 0.055 m; Body mass: 73.3 ± 4.9 kg; BMI: 23.20 ± 4.07), and a High-Intensity Interval Training Group (HIIT) with the same number of players (Age: 17.7 ± 0.5 years; Height: 1.80 ± 0.313 m; Body mass: 70.9 ± 6.6 kg; BMI: 22.27 ± 2.94). The CG did not participate in any HIIT program, while the HIIT group undertook a weekly plyometric-focused HIIT session for ten consecutive weeks. All subjects underwent two tests: the Squat Jump Test and the T-agility Test, along with the Kinovea software to measure jump flight time to calculate jump height in the SJ test. Results: The intervention group exhibited significant improvements in both the Squat Jump and T-agility test results, indicating enhanced explosive force following the ten-week HIIT program (Squat Jump: t = -3.163, p = .012; T-agility: t = 4.960, p = .000) compared to the control group. These results suggest that the HIIT program effectively enhanced both explosive power and agility performance, thereby potentially improving performance during matches and reducing injury risk among U17 players. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide valuable insights for coaches looking to enhance vertical jump height and agility through HIIT programs featuring plyometric exercises. The positive effects on explosive force and agility performance may lead to improved match performance and injury prevention among recreational soccer players.