EFFECT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON SPEED, AGILITY AND REACTION TIME OF MALE FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN DEBARK TOWN, NORTH GONDAR ZONE

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of plyometric training on speed, agility and reaction time of Debark male football project players. To achieve the purpose of the study thirty football players (X+ SD = 18.7 + .47285 years of age) were volunteered to participate in this study. All of the subjects played on Debark male football project players and none were being trained by means of plyometric training program. The subjects were grouped randomly in to experimental group (EG) (N= 15) and control group (CG) (N= 15). All of the experimental group members had questionnaire in which they were screened for any possible injury or illness. The group received all the necessary information about the study’s procedures in oral and written form. Then the plyometric training was given for experimental group for two days per a week in addition to their regular soccer related activities for 12 weeks two day’s per a week about 50 minutes. Both groups underwent measurements of their10m and 30m speed tests, Illinois and T-test and ruler drop test and four direction test before, during and after the training program and the scores were recorded. The collected data were analyzed by paired sample T-test using SPSS version 20. In EG the results were found for 10m sprint test (P = .000) 30m acceleration test (P= .000) whereas in a CG the results were found for 10m sprint test 30m (P = .050) (P= 0.037) respectively. Both groups showing improvements in T-test and Illinois agility test, but the improvement in EG (TT) P= 0.000, EG (IT) P= 0.00 is greater than CG (TT) P= 0.033 CG (IT) P= 0.046. On the other hand, the EG improved in their reaction time test (RTT) P= 0.00 and (RTT1) P= .000 significantly more than players in the CG (RTT) P= 0.046 and (RTT2) P= .026. Consequently, it was observed that 12-weeks plyometric training in addition to football trainings contributed to the speed, agility and reaction time development among footballers; therefore, the present study recommended that plyomeric training with a proper intensity, frequency, rest and progression needs to be incorporated with regular football training program to improve the players speed, agility and reaction time performance.