Investigation of the effect of 8 weeks plyometric exercises on shooting accuracy and balance in basketball in 14-16 years old adolescent female basketball players

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an 8-week plyometric exercise program on shooting accuracy and balance in female basketball players aged 14-16. A total of 25 voluntary athletes, who had been playing basketball for at least 2 years, participated in the study, which was conducted in Van, Turkey, within the U-14 and U-16 categories. One athlete was unable to participate due to various reasons, resulting in a total of 24 participants. The athletes were divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group, each consisting of 12 members. In addition to technical-tactical training, the experimental group underwent a plyometric training program four days a week for eight weeks. The control group only received the technical-tactical training program. Pre-test measurements were conducted before the start of the training programs for both groups. Post-test measurements were taken after the 8-week training program, and comparisons were made between the initial and final test results of both groups. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted using the SPSS 23.0 software. The data was transferred to the relevant analysis program without any intervention to test the research problem. The normality of the data set was assessed through visual (histograms and probability plots) and analytical methods (Skewness/Kurtosis test results and Kolmogorov-Smirnov/Shapiro-Wilk test results). Although some parameters were assumed to be normally distributed in accordance with the literature , the analysis of visual graphs suggested, based on sample size considerations from the relevant literature that the data set was not normally distributed. Consequently, to test the research hypotheses, the Mann-Whitney U Test was applied to identify differences between the experimental and control groups, while the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to evaluate the pre-test and post-test results of both groups. According to the results regarding changes in the parameters examined in the control group, significant differences were found in the final test data for the turnover score (Z: -2.332, p: .020) and total shooting score (Z: -2.066, p: .039). In the experimental group, significant statistical differences were identified in the final test data for shooting score (Z: -2.625, p: .009), turnover score (Z: -2.388, p: .017), total shooting score (Z: -2.949, p: .003), and Medium Equilibrium Center (ML) (Z: -2.472, p: .013) when comparing pre-test and post-test results. No statistically significant differences were found in the pre-test results between the experimental and control groups; however, statistically significant differences favoring the experimental group were observed in some parameters (shooting score, total shooting score, perimeter length, area gap percentage, medium speed) in the post-test results (p < .05). In conclusion, appropriately designed and implemented plyometric training programs are observed to contribute significantly to the development of performance components in athletes, aligning with the requirements and training objectives of basketball. Therefore, it is suggested that incorporating such training methods into the training programs of basketball players would be beneficial.