The effects of plyometric and resistance training on linear sprinting speed and repeated sprinting ability of youth players in Ethiopia

The study investigated the effects of resistance training, plyometric training, and resistance and plyometric training combined on linear-speed and repeated sprinting ability (RSA) of youth soccer players. The authors used a randomized block design, randomly assigning thirty-six male soccer players (aged 18 ± 1.212 years, with a body weight of 57 ± 3.580 kg) to one of three groups: plyometric exercise, combined plyometric and resistance exercise, and resistance exercise. The authors analyzed each group's performance gains by comparing the pretest and post-test performance scores using paired sample t-test. All three training groups achieved significant performance gains in linear speed and repeated sprinting ability (RSA) (p<0.05). The plyometric and combined groups achieved higher linear-speed performance than the resistance training group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference among the three groups in repeated-sprinting-ability scores (p>0.05). In conclusion, plyometric and combined exercises are important training methods to impact speed for soccer players. Thus, when the focus is on soccer-specific linear speed and repeated sprinting ability, coaches and their training programs should emphasize methods that incorporate appropriate plyometrics and resistance training. This fitness-oriented training has to be considered in line with the technical and tactical trainings as they are helpful to get the most from the players’ technical-tactical qualities.