## 4 Discussion  
This study primarily aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week pyometric training program on key athletic performance metrics, including sprint performance (10 m, 20 m, and 30 m), change of direction (COD) speed, Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), and Reactive Strength Index (RSI) in football players. The research compared two distinct training configurations, cluster sets (CLS), and traditional sets (TRD), alongside a control group (CON) that maintained regular football training without any additional pyometric exercises. The findings indicated significant performance improvements in both the CLS and TRD groups, with the CLS group frequently demonstrating superior results in several performance metrics and lower levels of perceived exertion. The study's findings demonstrated a significant enhancement in sprint performance across all measured distances (10 m, 20 m, and 30 m) for both the cluster-set (CLS) and traditional-set (TRD) training groups. The CLS group improved 9.26%, 4.78%, and 3.40% in the 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m sprints, respectively. Similarly, the TRD group recorded impressive gains of 9.94%, 3.72%, and 2.89%. These results highlight the efficacy of pyometric training in enhancing sprint acceleration and maximum speed, which are crucial for football players [8; 52; 53]. Conversely, the control group (CON) exhibited no significant changes, underscoring the importance of targeted training interventions to elicit meaningful performance adaptations. Notably, while marginal, the CLS group's superior results are significant. The intermittent rest periods incorporated in cluster-set training likely contributed to better recovery, reduced fatigue, and enhanced power output over time. This finding aligns with prior research indicating that rest intervals within sets enable athletes to maintain higher power levels and manage neuromuscular fatigue more effectively [54; 55; 56]. Sprint performance is vital in football, particularly for actions such as chasing the ball, covering defensive gaps, and executing attacking plays; thus, these improvements directly affect game performance [57; 58]. Additionally, improvements in change of direction (COD) speed emerged as another critical outcome of the study. The CLS group demonstrated a 4.71% enhancement in COD performance, while the TRD group improved by 4.01%. In contrast, the CON group showed no significant improvement. This outcome is particularly relevant to football, where rapid directional changes are frequently required during dribbling, tackling, and repositioning [59; 60]. The ability to decelerate and reaccelerate quickly and with control is pivotal to performance, and pyometric training, which emphasizes explosive power and agility, directly supports these capabilities [61; 62]. The COD improvements can likely be attributed to enhanced neuromuscular coordination and increased eccentric strength, essential for effectively controlling movement during rapid directional changes [63; 64]. Once again, the slightly better performance of the CLS group  
Figure 4: Intra-Group Effects of Plyometric Training on RPE. highlights the advantages of intermittent rest, which allows for greater preservation of explosive power throughout training sessions. Previous studies have similarly shown that structured rest periods during high-intensity exercises can improve overall performance due to reduced fatigue [65; 66]. The CLS and TRD groups significantly improved their Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) performance, showing 12.66% and 12.15% enhancements, respectively. These values approached those of the control group (UCT), which showed an improvement of 5.87%. Therefore, pyometric training greatly enhances lower body explosive power, essential for vertical jumps. This benefits football players involved in aerial challenges, headers, or defensive clearances. Jump height has been well-documented to improve with pyometric exercises, especially those that engage fast-twitch muscle fibers and are high in neuromuscular activation [67; 68].