The effects of 12 weeks plyometric excercises on biomotor skills of young female volleyball players

The aim of our study is to examine the effects of plyometric exercises, which are applied together over the lower and upper extremities of the athletes who perform trainings in sports schools regularly, on the development of biomotor skills (strength, speed, endurance, flexibility). 32 licensed young female volleyball players with mean age of 17,25 ± 0,81 years were participated in study voluntarily. The volleyball players comprised of athletes who perform regular volleyball trainings 90 minutes a day, 3 days weekly for 5 years. These athletes mentioned in our study are separated into two groups as training and control. In study the training group of athletes (n=16) performed plyometric exercises applied together over the lower and upper extremities during alternative two days of the week for 12 weeks, in addition to the technical - tactical, speed and agility trainings required by the volleyball branch. Athletes the pre-test values obtained at the beginning and the post-test values at the end of the 12 weeks were consistent with test protocols. Athlete's age, sports age, body height and weight and a series of biomotor skills expected to alter depending on plyometric exercises performed at the end of 12 weeks were recorded. Statistical analyses were carried out in IBM SPSS Statistics Package Program version 22 using nonparametric tests. The differences between exercise and control groups were evaluated with Mann Whitney U test and the pre-test and post-test variations with Wilcoxon Signed Ranks statistical analyses and p<0.01 with p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. As a result of tests applied at the beginning and end of study, significant differences could not be found between groups in terms of age, sports age, body height and weight measurements (p>0.05), whereas at (after) the post-test performed 12 weeks (later), significant differences were observed between biomotor skills of athletes in exercise group (p<0.05). Consequently, the strength, endurance, speed and flexibility abilities of young female volleyball players between 16 - 18 years of age who perform plyometric exercise along with regular volleyball training demonstrated considerable improvements compared to those volleyball players in control group who do not perform plyometric exercise. Key Words: Plyometric exercise; biomotor skills; volleyball; adolescence.