Research Article, J Athl Enhancement Vol: 3 Issue: 3
Improving Anaerobic Fitness in Young Basketball Players: Plyometric vs. Specific Sprint Training
| Roni Gottlieb1, Alon Eliakim1,2, Asaf Shalom1, Antonio Dello-Iacono1 and Yoav Meckel1* | |
| 1Life Science Department, Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Israel | |
| 2Child Health and Sport Center, Pediatric Department, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel | |
| Corresponding author : Yoav Meckel, PhD Life Science Department, The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute 42902, Israel Tel: 972-9-8639361; Fax: 972-9-8650960 E-mail: meckel@wincol.ac.il |
|
| Received: July 24, 2013 Accepted: March 26, 2014 Published: March 31, 2014 | |
| Citation: Gottlieb R, Eliakim A, Shalom A, Iacono AD, Meckel Y (2014) Improving Anaerobic Fitness in Young Basketball Players: Plyometric vs. Specific Sprint Training. J Athl Enhancement 3:3. doi:10.4172/2324-9080.1000148 |
Abstract
Improving Anaerobic Fitness in Young Basketball Players: Plyometric vs. Specific Sprint Training
Basketball is a game that is typically performed in an intermittent manner, and includes numerous bursts of explosive activity. Thus, implementation of training methods that best develop anaerobic fitness is of significant importance to basketball coaches and players. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of plyometric and specific sprint training, matched for total volume, on the anaerobic fitness of young basketball players. Nineteen young (16.3 ± 0.5 years) male basketball players were randomly assigned to either a plyometric training group or a specific sprint training group, and completed two similar fitness tests prior to and following six weeks of training. The two training programs consisted of plyometric jump training (4 sets of 4-6 series with 6 jumps each) and specific sprint training (4 sets of 4-6 × 20 m repetitions). Prior to training there were no baseline differences between the groups in 20 m sprint time (speed test), bounding distance and vertical jump height (power tests), 2×5 m run time (agility test) or suicide run time (basketball-specific anaerobic endurance test). Plyometric training led to a significant improvement only in the suicide test time (1.6 ± 1.6%, p<0.05). Specific sprint training led to a significant improvement in the 20 m sprint time (2.6 ± 1.7%), bounding distance (3.9 ± 3.8%), and suicide test time (1.2 ± 1.1%, p<0.05 for all). However, there was no significant between-group differences in the training effects on any of the anaerobic variables measured. Neither training program had a significant effect on jump height or the 2×5 m run. The study showed that plyometric training and specific sprint training do not differ statistically in enhancing anaerobic fitness of young basketball players. Thus, coaches may have the possibility of alternating between these methods during the busy basketball season.
