THE EFFECT OF SIX WEEKS PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON AGILITY IN MALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Plyometrics can help players strengthen the skills. Plyometrics are training techniques used by athletes in all types of sports to increase strength and explosiveness 13 . Researches have suggested that Plyometric exercises were initially utilized to enhance sport performance and are more recently being used in the rehabilitation of injured athletes to help in preparation for a return to sport participation 13 . Although plyometric training has been shown to increase performance variables, little scientific information is available to determine if plyometric training actually enhances agility. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 6-week plyometric training program on agility in basketball players. time when preparing to change direction, which is a major component of agility and a benefit of plyometric training. Roper (1998) used a four-point drill, which is very similar to the test they implemented using the force plate, since the movement patterns require forward, backward and lateral changes in direction in a rapid succession. They stated that the relationship between plyometric exercise and increased performance in agility tests may be high due to their similar patterns of movement to facilitate power and movement efficiency by the immediate change in direction upon landing. Their results using the force plate test support Roper’s claims that a plyometric training program can decrease ground reaction test times because of increases in muscular power and movement efficiently. In their study, subjects who underwent plyometric training were able to improve their times significantly on both the T-test and Illinois agility test. Therefore, they found a positive relationship between plyometric training and improvements of both agility tests. This improvement in agility is beneficial for athletes who require quick movements while performing their sport and support results from other studies. In a study of Parsons and Jones 23 , on tennis players, the authors used a T-test and dot drill test to determine speed and agility. They found that the players became quicker and more agile; enabling them to get to more balls and be more effective tennis players. Renfro (1999) measured agility using the T-test with plyometric training while Robinson and Owens (2004) 25 measured performance in activities which involved acceleration, deceleration and change of direction. In addition, the plyometric training program may have improved the eccentric strength of the lower limb, a prevalent component in changes of direction during the deceleration phase 26 . It is well document that agility requires development of muscle factors to improve change of direction speed and it appears that, agility has high relationship with strength and power 26 . Perhaps increases in the power performance become one of the important variables for the enhancement of agility. Also, neural adaptations and enhancement of motor unit recruitment are other mechanisms can lead to increase for the agility tests. However, we could not exactly determine that neural adaptations occurred or better facilitation of neural impulse to spinal cord 27 ; therefore, further studies are needed to determine mechanisms of agility improvement by plyometric training. In our study, subjects who underwent plyometric training were able to improve their times significantly on both the T-test and Barrow’s zigzag test. Therefore, we found a positive relationship between Plyometric training and improvements of both agility tests. This improvement in agility is beneficial for athletes who require quick movements while performing their sport and support results from other studies.