Research article - (2017)16, 527 - 535
Plyometric Training Improves Sprinting, Jumping and Throwing Capacities of High Level Female Volleyball Players Better Than Skill-Based Conditioning
Bahri Gjinovci1, Kemal Idrizovic2, Ognjen Uljevic3, Damir Sekulic3,
1University of Prishtina, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Prishtina, Kosovo
2University of Montenegro, Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, Podgorica, Montenegro
3University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology, Split, Croatia

Damir Sekulic
✉ University of Split Faculty of Kinesiology, Teslina 6, 21000, Split, Croatia
Email: damir.sekulic@kifst.hr
Received: 03-07-2017 -- Accepted: 12-10-2017
Published (online): 1-12-2017
ABSTRACT

There is an evident lack of studies on the effectiveness of plyometric- and skill-based-conditioning in volleyball. This study aimed to evaluate effects of 12-week plyometric- and volleyball-skill-based training on specific conditioning abilities in female volleyball players. The sample included 41 high-level female volleyball players (21.8 ± 2.1 years of age; 1.76 ± 0.06 cm; 60.8 ± 7.0 kg), who participated in plyometric- (n = 21), or skill-based-conditioning-program (n = 20). Both programs were performed twice per week. Participants were tested on body-height, body-mass (BM), countermovement jump (CMJ), standing broad jump (SBJ), medicine ball throw, (MBT) and 20-m sprint (S20M). All tests were assessed at the study baseline (pre-) and at the end of the 12-week programs (post-testing). Two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements showed significant (p<0.05) “Group x Time” effects for all variables but body-height. Plyometric group significantly reduced body-mass (trivial effect size [ES] differences; 1% average pre- to post-measurement changes), and improved their performance in S20M (moderate ES; 8%), MBT (very large ES; 25%), CMJ (large ES; 27%), and SBJ (moderate ES; 8%). Players involved in skill-based-conditioning significantly improved CMJ (large ES; 18%), SBJ (small ES; 3%), and MBT (large ES; 9%). The changes which occurred between pre- and post-testing were more inter-correlated in plyometric-group. Although both training-modalities induced positive changes in jumping- and throwing-capacities, plyometric-training is found to be more effective than skill-based conditioning in improvement of conditioning capacities of female senior volleyball players. Future studies should evaluate differential program effects in less experienced and younger players.
Key words: Volleyball, plyometric exercise, small-sided games, conditioning

Key Points
  • Plyometric- and skill-based-conditioning resulted in improvements in jumping and throwing capacities, but plyometric training additionally induced positive changes in anthropometrics and sprint-capacity
  • The changes induced by plyometric training were larger in magnitude than those achieved by skill-based conditioning.
  • The higher intensity together with possibility of more accurate adjustment of training load in plyometric training are probably the most important determinant of such differential influence.
  • It is likely that the skill-based conditioning program did not result in changes of higher magnitude because of the players’ familiarity with volleyball-related skills.








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Plyometric Training Improves Sprinting, Jumping and Throwing Capacities of High Level Female Volleyball Players Better Than Skill-Based Conditioning
Bahri Gjinovci, Kemal Idrizovic, Ognjen Uljevic, Damir Sekulic
2017(16), 527 - 535.
DOI: https://doi.org/