Effect of different weekly frequencies of plyometric-jump and linear-sprint training on youth male futsal athlete’s physical fitness

Abstract

Introduction: This prospective cross-sectional intervention study aimed to compare the effect of different frequencies (equated for total repetitions) of plyometric-jump and linear-sprint training on U-18 (age, 17,0 ± 1,05) male futsal athlete’s physical fitness. Methods: Athletes (33) were randomly distributed into groups with one (1-TSW, n = 10), two (2-TSW, n = 11), and three (3-TSW, n = 12) training session per week (TSW), during 4 weeks of their regular futsal training routine. Plyometric-jump training involved bipedal and unipedal horizontal maximum-intensity jumps. Linear-sprint training involved maximal-intensity 10-msprints with 30 seconds of rest between sprints. Results: The three training groups completed an equal number of total jumps (n = 780) and sprints (n = 260). A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on time revealed significant main effects of time for all physical fitness outcomes, i.e., squat jump and counter-movement jump height, power, relative power, standing long jump distance, 10-m and 20-m sprint time, and change of direction sprint time in the T-test (all p < 0.001; d = 0.36-0.69), without significant group × time interaction effects (p = 0.133-0.861; d = 0.01-0.13). Conclusion, Adding plyometric-jump and linear-sprint training to the standard training of youth male futsal athlete’s improves their physical fitness, with similar improvements regardless of the training frequency.