Comparative effect of land- and aquatic-based plyometric training on jumping ability and agility of young basketball players

The effect of land- and aquatic-based plyometric training on jumping ability and agility of young basketball players was investigated. Eighteen young male, semi-professional basketball players (age: 18.81±1.46 years) were randomly assigned to aquatic plyometric training (AP), land plyometric training (LP) or a control group (CON). The plyometric training groups were subjected to an 8-week long plyometric training program that consisted of three plyometric training sessions per week of 40 minutes per session. The players performed jumping ability and agility tests before and after the training or non-training period. The 2×3 analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test revealed no significant differences (p>0.05) between the AP and LP for any of the jumping ability and agility test values. A significant training effect (p<0.05) was seen in the experimental groups (AP and LP) for all the test variables from pre- to post-training. Significantly greater gains were observed with regard to all measurements in the AP compared to the CON. The LP only achieved significant greater gains in the Vertical Jump Test compared to the CON. The 8-week aquatic-based plyometric training program provided the same or more benefits for jumping and agility ability of young basketball players than the land-based plyometric training program of the same duration