Comparative Effects of Tic-Tac-Toe Exercises versus Squat Jump on Speed, Agility, and Explosive Power Among Fast Bowlers: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Background: Cricket fast bowlers deliver the ball consistently at high speeds over long bowling spells, which requires highly coordinated and well-planned movement solutions. Speed, agility, and explosive power are the capabilities required by fast bowlers to show rapidity and promptness in whole body movement with a change in velocity and direction against the stimulus. Objective: To compare the effects of tic-tac-toe exercises versus squat jump on speed, agility, and explosive power among fast bowlers. Methodology: This was a randomised clinical trial in which purposive sampling was used to collect data from cricket clubs and cricket academies of Faisalabad after meeting the eligibility criteria. Male fast bowlers of the age range 18-30 years, and with at least one year of playing experience, were included in the study. All subjects suffering from any form of systemic disease, any sprain or strain during the last three months, any fracture or injury, and neural injury preceding the onset of the training program were excluded. Fast bowlers were randomly allocated into two groups; Group A followed the tic-tac-toe exercises, and Group B followed the squat jump training program. Both groups followed the exercise protocol for one and a half months (six weeks on alternate days). Speed, agility, and explosive power were assessed by using the 30-meter sprint test, the agility t-test, and the vertical jump test. The normality of data was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. As per the distribution of the data, independent sample and paired t-test were used to analyse the parametric difference between and within each group, respectively. Results: The results showed significant improvement in the 30-meter sprint test, agility t-test, and vertical jump test, with the p-values <0.001 after following both squat jumps and tic-tac-toe exercise. Conclusion: Both the tic-tac-toe exercises and the squat jump are effective in enhancing speed, agility, and explosive power among fast bowlers. However, for improving the 30-meter sprint test and vertical jump test, the squat jumps regimen is more effective than the tic-tac-toe exercises. In contrast, for improvement in the agility t-test, both the squat jumps regimen and the tic-tac-toe exercises have the same effects.