EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON SKILL RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS OF U-17 FOOTBALL PROJECT IN HAGERESELAM TOWN, SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA

The proposed aim of this research was to investigate effect of eight weeks plyometric training on<br> skill related physical performance of Hagereselam U-17 football project players. For this<br> purpose, twenty four voluntary, healthy and male football players, who are members of U-17<br> project with the mean age of 16.79 + .38 and BMI 19.09 + .47, were selected by engaging<br> census sampling techniques. To this end subjects were randomly categorized as (EG=12) and<br> (CG=12), Apart from this, by employing randomized experimental research design an eight<br> weeks, three days/week, 60’/ session plyometric training were delivered to EG in addition to<br> actual project training, whereas CG stay involving only on their regular training. Skill related<br> Physical performance (speed in 30m dash, agility in Illinois agility and explosive power in broad<br> jump were selected as study variables. After the normality of data was tested, descriptive, Paired<br> sample and independent t test were used to test effect of intervention and variation among<br> groups respectively. Paired sample t test analysis result of closed performance shows significant<br> improvement to all variables testes at for 30 m dash, Illinois agility and Standing Long Jump,<br> (P= 0.00). On the posttest analysis EG shows significantly better result all tests than CG. In<br> conclusion, eight weeks plyometric training has found better option to augment skill related<br> physical performance (speed, agility and power) of football players. So, it recommended to<br> anyone who intended to improve physical performance of football players to use plyometric<br> training.