Plyometrics in long jump performance: a basis for a training program
Authors: Diosalan, Jr. Eduardo , Diosalan Susan , Martinez Christian 
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to determine the effects of plyometrics training in the development of long jump performance of Bachelor of Industrial Technology (BIT) students of Capiz State University, Roxas City, Main Campus. The study focused to answer the problems of the pre- and post-treatment long jump performance of the students in the experimental group and the control group when taken as an entire group and when classified according to age, sex, weight, height and home location. It also focused in finding out the significant differences in the pre- and post-treatment long jump performances of the experimental group and the control group when classified according to age, sex, weight, height and home location, and the reactions of the student on the different plyometrics training program that would be formulated for the development of long jump performance. This experimental research used two groups, the experimental group and the control group which were randomly selected and was statistically equated. The 40 participants were taken from among the 275 first year BIT students enrolled during the first semester of school year 2009-2010. The investigation was done in two groups, the experimental group and the control group, with 20 students in each group. The experimental group was exposed to the plyometrics training while the control group remained in the usual activity taken in PE 11a, the physical fitness class. Both were handled by the researcher in a different time schedule.The data gathered were computed via SPSS and statistically tested using the Physical Performance Test with Filipino Norms. To obtain the students’ reactions towards the plyometrics training, the modified Nelson-Allen plyometrics reaction satisfaction scale was used. Statistical tools employed to analyze results were descriptive data, frequency, percentages, means and standard deviations. For inferential statistics, t-test and point-biserial r were used. The level of significance was set at alpha .05. Findings in the pre-treatment long jump performance revealed that students in both groups have similar skills in long jump. There is no significant difference in the pre-treatment long jump performance of students between the two groups, so the hypothesis was accepted. However, a significant difference was observed in the post-treatment long jump performance in the experimental group and slight improvement in the control group. The significance between the two groups indicates that the experimental perform better than those in the control group, so the hypothesis of significant difference in post-treatment long jump performance was rejected. Significant differences were observed in the pre and post long jump performance of students in the experimental group, but no significant difference in the pre- and post long jump performance of students in the control group. The improvement manifested by the experimental group in all the characteristics seemed to indicate that the plyometrics training is the effective activity to improve the long jump skills of students therefore, the hypothesis between the pre and post treatment of the experimental group is rejected. After the eight-week intervention, the experimental group was given questionnaire on the plyometrics movement reaction satisfaction to assess the reaction towards the plyometrics training. The data revealed that most of the responses were “strong positive reaction”. The strong positive reactions of students indicate that the use of plyometrics training appears to improve and increase the strength of skills of students, therefore, a plyometrics training program be designed and specifically planned for excellent long jump performance.