EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN ADOLESCENT BASKETBALL PLAYERS AGED 13–14 YEARS
Authors
Nesti Binishi, Danjela Cakuli
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Basketball performance depends on physical qualities such as speed, agility, and lower-limb explosive power, particularly during adolescence when neuromuscular development is rapid. This study investigated the effects of an 8-week structured plyometric training program on physical performance in male basketball players aged 13–14 years. A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design was used, involving an experimental group that completed plyometric training twice weekly in addition to regular basketball practice and a control group that continued regular training only. Performance was evaluated before and after the intervention using the 10 × 5 m Shuttle Run Test, 505 Agility Test, Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), and 20-cm Drop Jump (DJ20). Statistical analyses were performed using paired-sample t-tests with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in all performance variables, including faster sprint and agility times and increased jump heights. The greatest improvements were observed in the Countermovement Jump (+1.92 cm), Drop Jump (+1.63 cm), and 10 × 5 m Shuttle Run (−1.52 s). Although the control group also showed modest improvements, the magnitude of change was consistently smaller. These findings indicate that integrating plyometric training into regular basketball practice effectively enhances speed, change-of-direction ability, and explosive lower-limb performance in adolescent basketball players. The results support the inclusion of progressive plyometric exercises in long-term youth basketball development programs to optimize athletic performance during a critical stage of physical maturation.
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Authors
Nesti Binishi, Danjela Cakuli
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References:
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