Plyometric training on sand versus grass: Effects on sprinting, jumping, agility and balance in soccer players

Authors

  • Valerio Bonavolontà University of Study of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2955-0498
  • Roberto Carvutto University of Study of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy
  • Angelo Di Gioia University of Study of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy
  • Michele De Candia University of Study of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.16.Proc3.27

Keywords:

Plyometric training, Soccer, Sand, Sprinting, Jumping, Balance

Abstract

Soccer is an intermittent high-intensity activity requiring explosive strength and power production by the neuromuscular system. Plyometric training is recognized as an effective method for improving both sprinting and jumping ability through the stretch-shortening cycle. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of plyometric training on sand versus a grass surface on sprinting, jumping, agility, balance ability in soccer players. Sixteen adult soccer players volunteered in the study and were randomly assigned to a plyometric training group performed on sand (PS, n = 8) or on grass (PG, n = 8). Both groups performed 7 weeks of plyometric training on two separate weekly sessions lasting about 1.5 hour. Five-, 10- and 20-meters sprint test, Sargent test and standing long jump test, Illynois Agility test and Stork test were administered to assess sprinting, jumping, agility and balance ability, respectively. After 7 weeks of intervention results showed significative improvements in PS group for sprinting (p < .05), for standing long jump test (p < .05) and for balance (p < .05). Small but not significant differences were found for the other variables. A 7-week plyometric training performed on sand showed improvements on sprinting, jumping and balance respect to the same training performed on grass surface in adult soccer players.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Arazi, H., Mohammadi, M., & Asadi, A. (2014). Muscular adaptations to depth jump plyometric training: Comparison of sand vs. land surface. Interventional Medicine and Applied Science, 6(3), 125-130. https://doi.org/10.1556/imas.6.2014.3.5

Bangsbo, J., Mohr, M., & Krustrup, P. (2006). Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football player. Journal of sports sciences, 24(07), 665-674. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500482529

Binnie, M. J., Dawson, B., Pinnington, H., Landers, G., & Peeling, P. (2013 a). Effect of training surface on acute physiological responses after interval training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(4), 1047-1056. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182651fab

Binnie, M. J., Dawson, B., Pinnington, H., Landers, G., & Peeling, P. (2013 b). Part 2: Effect of training surface on acute physiological responses after sport-specific training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(4), 1057-1066. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182651d63

Booth, M. A., & Orr, R. (2016). Effects of plyometric training on sports performance. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 38(1), 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000183

Chaouachi, A., Othman, B. A., Hammami, R., Drinkwater, E. J., & Behm, D. G. (2014). The combination of plyometric and balance training improves sprint and shuttle run performances more often than plyometric-only training with children. Journal of Strength and Conditioning. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182987059

Chimera, N. J., Swanik, K. A., Swanik, C. B., & Straub, S. J. (2004). Effects of plyometric training on muscle-activation strategies and performance in female athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 39(1), 24.

de Lacey, J., Brughelli, M., McGuigan, M., Hansen, K., Samozino, P., & Morin, J. B. (2014). The effects of tapering on power-force-velocity profiling and jump performance in professional rugby league players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(12), 3567-3570. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000572

Fischetti, F., Cataldi, S., & Greco, G. (2019 a). A combined plyometric and resistance training program improves fitness performance in 12 to 14-years-old boys. Sport Sciences for Health, 15(3), 615-621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-019-00560-2

Fischetti, F., Cataldi, S., & Greco, G. (2019 b). Lower-limb plyometric training improves vertical jump and agility abilities in adult female soccer players. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19(2), 1254-1261. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2019.02182

Fischetti, F., Greco, G., Cataldi, S., Minoia, C., Loseto, G., & Guarini, A. (2019 c). Effects of physical exercise intervention on psychological and physical fitness in lymphoma patients. Medicina (Lithuania), 55(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55070379

Gaudino, P., Gaudino, C., Alberti, G., & Minetti, A. E. (2013). Biomechanics and predicted energetics of sprinting on sand: hints for soccer training. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 16(3), 271-275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.07.003

Granacher, U., Prieske, O., Majewski, M., Büsch, D., & Muehlbauer, T. (2015). The role of instability with plyometric training in sub-elite adolescent soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(05), 386-394. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1395519

Greco, G., Patti, A., Cataldi, S., Iovane, A., Messina, G., & Fischetti, F. (2019). Changes in physical fitness in young female volleyball players after an 8-week in-season pilates training program. Acta Medica Mediterranea, 35(6), 3375-3381. https://doi.org/10.19193/0393-6384_2019_6_531

Impellizzeri, F. M., Rampinini, E., Castagna, C., Martino, F., Fiorini, S., & Wisloff, U. (2008). Effect of plyometric training on sand versus grass on muscle soreness and jumping and sprinting ability in soccer players. British journal of sports medicine, 42(1), 42-46. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.038497

Komi, P. V. (2003). Stretch shortening cycle. In P. V. Komi (Ed.), Strength and power in sport. Oxford: Blackwell Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470757215

Kumar, C. S. (2016). Effect of land plyometric and sand plyometric training on selected physical and physiological variables among hockey players. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 3(3), 540-544.

Latino, F., Cataldi, S., & Fischetti, F. (2021). Effects of a Coordinative Ability Training Program on Adolescents' Cognitive Functioning. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 60. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620440

Latino, F., Greco, G., Fischetti, F., & Cataldi, S. (2019). Multilateral training improves body image perception in female adolescents. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 14(Proc4), S927-S936. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2019.14.Proc4.55

Markovic, G., & Mikulic, P. (2010). Neuro-musculoskeletal and performance adaptations to lower-extremity plyometric training. Sports medicine, 40(10), 859-895. https://doi.org/10.2165/11318370-000000000-00000

Meylan, C., & Malatesta, D. (2009). Effects of in-season plyometric training within soccer practice on explosive actions of young players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b1f330

Michailidis, Y., Fatouros, I. G., Primpa, E., Michailidis, C., Avloniti, A., Chatzinikolaou, A., ... & Leontsini, D. (2013). Plyometrics' trainability in preadolescent soccer athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(1), 38-49. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182541ec6

Miyama, M., & Nosaka, K. (2004). Muscle damage and soreness following repeated bouts of consecutive drop jumps. Adv Exerc Sports Physiol, 10(3), 63-69.

Negra, Y., Chaabene, H., Sammoud, S., Bouguezzi, R., Mkaouer, B., Hachana, Y., & Granacher, U. (2017). Effects of plyometric training on components of physical fitness in prepuberal male soccer athletes: the role of surface instability. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 31(12), 3295-3304. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002262

Pinnington, H. C., & Dawson, B. (2001a). The energy cost of running on grass compared to soft dry beach sand. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 4(4), 416-430. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1440-2440(01)80051-7

Pinnington, H. C., Lloyd, D. G., Besier, T. F., & Dawson, B. (2005). Kinematic and electromyography analysis of submaximal differences running on a firm surface compared with soft, dry sand. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 94(3), 242-253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1323-6

Prieske, O., Muehlbauer, T., Mueller, S., Krueger, T., Kibele, A., Behm, D. G., & Granacher, U. (2013). Effects of surface instability on neuromuscular performance during drop jumps and landings. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 113(12), 2943-2951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2724-6

Raiola, G., & Altavilla, G. (2020). Testing motor skills, general and special coordinative, in young soccer. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 15(2proc), S206-S212. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2020.15.Proc2.11

Ramirez-Campillo, R, Alvarez, C, Garcıa-Pinillos, F, Garcıa-Ramos, A, Loturco, I, Chaabene, H, and Granacher, U. (2020). Effects of combined surfaces vs. single-surface plyometric training on soccer players' physical fitness. J Strength Cond Res 34(9): 2644- 2653. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002929

Ramírez-Campillo, R., Gallardo, F., Henriquez-Olguín, C., Meylan, C. M., Martínez, C., Álvarez, C., ... & Izquierdo, M. (2015). Effect of vertical, horizontal, and combined plyometric training on explosive, balance, and endurance performance of young soccer players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 29(7), 1784-1795. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000827

Ramírez-Campillo, R., Álvarez, C., Henríquez-Olguín, C., Baez, E. B., Martínez, C., Andrade, D. C., & Izquierdo, M. (2014). Effects of plyometric training on endurance and explosive strength performance in competitive middle-and long-distance runners. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(1), 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182a1f44c

Ramírez-Campillo, R., Andrade, D. C., & Izquierdo, M. (2013). Effects of plyometric training volume and training surface on explosive strength. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(10), 2714-2722. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318280c9e9

Saez de Villarreal, E., Suarez-Arrones, L., Requena, B., Haff, G. G., & Ferrete, C. (2015). Effects of plyometric and sprint training on physical and technical skill performance in adolescent soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29, 1894-1903. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000838

Sannicandro, I., Piccinno, A., Cofano, G., Eirale, C., Bisciotti, G.N. (2014). Effects of plyometric training on phases of jumping in young fencers, Med Sport, 67, 27-46.

Sohnlein, Q., Muller, E., & Stoggl, T. L. (2014). The effect of 16-week plyometric training on explosive actions in early to mid-puberty elite soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28, 2105-2114. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000387

Váczi, M., Tollár, J., Meszler, B., Juhász, I., & Karsai, I. (2013). Short-term high intensity plyometric training program improves strength, power and agility in male soccer players. Journal of human kinetics, 36(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2013-0002

Statistics

Statistics RUA

Published

2021-09-01

How to Cite

Bonavolontà, V., Carvutto, R., Di Gioia, A., & De Candia, M. (2021). Plyometric training on sand versus grass: Effects on sprinting, jumping, agility and balance in soccer players. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 16(3proc), S1104-S1113. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.16.Proc3.27

Most read articles by the same author(s)