The Effects of Loaded Plyometrics and Short Sprints in U19 Male Soccer Players in Tunisia

Aloui, G.; Souhail, H.; Hayes, L. D.; Bouhafs, E.; Chelly, M. S.; Schwesig, R.

Featured Application The investigation examined adding 8 weeks of bi-weekly loaded plyometric and short sprints training into standard training for U19 soccer players. We report that including bi-weekly loaded plyometric and short sprints training in standard training during the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic improved the physical fitness of young soccer players. Particularly, the ability to repeatedly change direction benefited most from the intervention. We investigated adding 8 weeks of bi-weekly loaded plyometric and short sprints (LPaSS) training into training for under 19 (U19) soccer players. An experimental group (EG, n = 18, age: 17.5 +/- 0.58 years, body mass: 67.4 +/- 4.37 kg, height: 1.76 +/- 0.05 m, body fat: 11.4 +/- 1.55%), and a control group (CG, n = 16, age: 17.5 +/- 0.58 years, body mass: 68.7 +/- 3.65 kg, height: 1.78 +/- 0.03 m, body fat: 11.6 +/- 1.14%) participated. The pre- and postintervention measures were: the squat-jump (SJ);the countermovement-jump with arm swing (CMJA);the five jump test (5JT);10 m and 30 m sprint;the ability to change direction (sprint with 90 degrees turns (S90 degrees) and sprinting 9-3-6-3-9 m, involving running both backwards and forwards (SBF);repeated sprint ability (RSA), and balance (Y-balance test). The EG experienced superior jump (p < 0.001;d(range): 1.69-1.89), sprint (p < 0.001;d(range): 1.82-2.56), S90 degrees (p < 0.001;d(range): 1.64-2.25), RSA (p < 0.001;d(range): 3.90-4.17), and balance (p < 0.001;d(range): 1.11-2.54) improvement. Comparatively, the pre- to postchanges in the CG ranged from d = 0.36 (dynamic balance) to d = 1.00 (10 m sprint). Therefore, bi-weekly LPaSS training improves athletic performance in young soccer players, particularly RSA.