Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of a six-week plyometric high and low-intensity training on the explosive power of lower limbs in volleyball players. Material/Methods: The research was conducted on a sample of 30 volunteers of the Sports Club at Gdansk University of Technology in Gdansk. Before the experiment, the players were divided into two homogeneous groups. After two weeks of an introductory common stage, each group followed a plyometric regime of different intensity. The results showed that the high-intensity program was more efficient than the low-intensity program in developing the explosive power in the volleyball players. Results: The largest significant improvement was observed for the vertical jump with arm swing (11% in HIJG and 3.8% in LISG). The strongest correlations were registered for the maximal power and the total mechanical work obtained in the Wingate test (r=0.83), and the power of jumps during attacks and blocks (r=0.78). Conclusions: The experiment confirmed high effectiveness of the training loads applied in the experiment, in particular in the high-intensity program.
Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of two 8-week sprint training programs on the speed and sport-specific skills of young soccer players and to determine additional effects of 8 weeks’ whole body rotation. Material/Methods: Twenty-two Under-18 soccer players were divided into two groups: a running group (RG) and a ball group (BG). The RG completed sprint training without the ball, whereas the BG members trained with the ball. The 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-m sprint times and the level of soccer-specific skills were measured before and after completing the training programs. Results: A significant (p < 0.05) time interaction was found in sprint times at all distances. The players from both groups achieved significantly better sprint times on the distances of 15 m and 30 m; additionally, an improvement in the 20 m sprint time was noted in the BG. No significant changes in the level of soccer-specific skills were found. Conclusions: Sprint training performed with a ball might be equally efficient as a traditional non-ball method for developing players’ speed. Moreover, soccer-specific sprint training may improve certain technical skills in young players.
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