Effect of plyometric training on vertical jump hight and anaerobic performance in young basketball players

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of plyometric training, in two different training frequency, within competition season on vertical jump performance, anaerobic capability and leg force values. 15-17 years old young male basketball players of Vestel Sport Club participated to this training. A total of 18 basketball players has been divided into three groups as unbiased and in equal number (n=6): two experimental and one control group.One of the experimental groups applied the drop jump plyometric exercise following the routine basketball training, once a week, while the other group had done three times a week, and then the training had been completed with a stretching exercise. The study of the control group had been completed with the stretching exercise after the routine basketball training. The training had continued 8 weeks.Some measurements were taken before and after 8 weeks training session. Vertical jump height had been determined by using the static jump test method. Anaerobic power and capacity had been recorded by the Wingate anaerobic test. Flexibility had measured by using a sit and reach flexibility test. Leg force had obtained by using isokinetic force test. Balance measurement had been evaluated by using the SporKat balance measurement procedure.Statistical comparisons among three groups in this study were calculated by taking mean values of dependent variables, and Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test had been used for significance effects of dependent variables. Significance level has been determined as p<0,05.At the end of the training, it has been observed that the values of the vertical jump, anaerobic power and capacity and also leg force values of plyometric exercise groups has shown statistically significant improvements (p<0,05). A statistically significant increase in the values of vertical jump, anaerobic power and capacity and leg force (p<0,05) has been provided for the experimental group doing the plyometric exercise one day in a week as compared with the control group.