The Effect of Plyometric Training on Lower-Limb Explosive and Anaerobic Power in Adolescent Handball Players

In many sports such as athletics, gymnastics and team sports and etc. It has been clear that both explosive and anaerobic power play a prominent role. One of the new and efficient ways to increase parameters already mentioned, are plyometric exercise and its huge coverage for numerous parameters beyond latter. Current study is a quasi-experimental research which tries to investigate the effect of three plyometric training program on lower limb explosive and anaerobic power of handball players with the age ranging from 16 to17 years old. In this study, 30 handball players (age=16.17±0.75 years, height 167.9±0.9 cm and weight 54.3±6.8 kg) already volunteered to participate, were randomly divided into three groups and all groups performed 8 weeks of plyometric training programs: The first group practiced Jump ESCO, The second group practiced Jump zigzag and the third group practiced jump CMJ. Vertical jump test (Sargent test) for explosive power and RAST test for anaerobic power conducted and measured. Having completed training programs and training sessions, both latter mentioned test were conducted on subjects and measured as post test data. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 19 software was used to determine the effect of pre-test and post-test and for detecting any significant difference between groups ANOVA and paired t-test was used. The results indicated that all three methods plyometric had a significant impact on youngster handball player. There were significant differences in explosive and anaerobic power but no significant difference among the three groups. To prevent fatigue and injury, youngster handball players may incorporate variety of plyometric exercises into their typical training programs.