European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1115668 EFFECT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON REPEATED SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYERS Levent Ceylan1i, Erkan Demirkan2 1 Ondokuz Mayıs University Yaşar Doğu, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Turkey 2 Hitit University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Turkey Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plyometric training on repeated sprint ability in amateur soccer players. Twenty amateur soccer players participated in this study as the subject. The subjects were randomly assigned to plyometric training group (n=10, age: 19.7±2.26 years) and control group (n=10, age: 18.8±0.6 years). The training group is experienced a plyometric exercise 2 days a week for 12 weeks. Preand post-tests assessed 6x35 meters (Repeated Anaerobic Sprint Test) repeated sprint test, body composition, rest heart rate, and peak heart rate in control and plyometric group. For the comparison of groups, paired samples t-test and independent (IBM SSPS 21.0) was used. The results revealed that significant difference in six piece repeated first sprint after the 12 weeks plyometric training were in the plyometric group. The plyometric group also showed a significant difference in rest heart beat rate, peak heart beat rate, right leg fat (%), fat mass, fat free mass, left leg fat mass, and fat free mass. However there was no a significant difference in left leg fat (%), BMI, BMR and total body water. The major finding in the study was the significant improvements in repeated sprint performance and body composition. According to these results, it can be said that practicing of plyometric training develops repeated sprint performance and also increases mass fat loses, in addition to regular soccer training. Keywords: plyometric training, repeated sprint, amateur soccer players Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 329 Levent Ceylan, Erkan Demirkan EFFECT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON REPEATED SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYERS 1. Introduction Tactical part of football is developing rapidly. With this development, practice and physical condition in football plays a significant role. Time reaction, power, strength, aerobic, anaerobic capacity and ability are among most important skills in sports (Dadic, Svilar, and Milanovic, 2014, Birinci et al., 2 , Yılmaz et al., , Mayda et al., 2016). When we considered these factors, during the game, it is stated there 2 and 4 second sprints occur for each 90 second and these sprints correspond to 3% of the duration of the game and 1-11% of the distance. Approximately, 96% of the sprints is shorter than 30 m and 49% are shorter than 10 m. Thus, performance and initial speed above or below 10 m is the key indicator of the performance of the player. Additionally, many of the games have bursting movements and approximately 15 steals and 10 headers require hitting the ball and different speeds at different distances (Chelly et al., 2010). Repeated sprints (RS) are less considered subjects. Historically, since the movement of the player could not be estimated in field-based, team sports games, investigating repeated sprint skills is challenging. However, with technological developments, researches have the opportunity to document templates of team player movements (time-motion analysis). In field-based, team sports games, researches for time-motion analysis stated that average sprints occur between 10-20 meter and 2-3 seconds (Spencer, Bishop, Dawson, and Goodman, 2005). Various researches (Oliver, Armstrong, and Williams, 2009; Krustrup et al., 2003; Mohr, Krustrup, and Bangsbo, , Yılmaz, ) stated that high level football players during a football game, had higher running intensity compared to lower level players. Thus, in sports types that has multiple sprints, identifying repeated sprint skills of players was considered as an important performance indicator (Oliver, Armstrong, and Williams, 9, Krustrup et al., , Mohr, Krustrup, and Bangsbo, ; Yılmaz et al., 2017). Previous researches (Shalfawi et al., 2012, Iaia, Rampinini, and Bangsbo, 2009) suggested that successful team have the ability to produce high-speed repeated movements compared to less successful teams. Plyometric practice is a common physical condition type. The objective of plyometric practice is to increase the power by using the natural, flexible components of the muscle, strain reflex of tendons and balance. In sports types such as football and rugby, plyometric practice could be selected. Plymetric practice increases neuromuscular functions (Behm, Faigenbaum, Falk, and Klentrou, 2008, Markovic, and Mikulic, 2010, Lloyd, Meyers, and Oliver, 2011, Mahmood et al., 2017) and bone mineral density (Witzke, and Snow, 2000), promote psychological health, reduce cardiovascular disorder ratios, develop weight control, and decrease injuries in sports. Researches European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 330 Levent Ceylan, Erkan Demirkan EFFECT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON REPEATED SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYERS adopt plyometric practice in experiment groups and measure sportive capabilities of the participants (Bedoya, Miltenberger, and Lopez, 2015). The studies indicated that different practice methods such as plyometric practice could positively contribute to sports performance. Plyometric method is one of the method that could produce positive outcomes (Dadic et al., 2014). In this study, the effect of plyometric practices of amateur football players on repeated sprint performance was investigated. In this study, it was assumed that plyometric practices would develop repeated sprint performance and body compositions of the amateur football players. Thus, it is expected that the results of experiment group would be better than control group. For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejep/article/view/1277 European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 331