INFLUENCES OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON POWER AND POWER-ENDURANCE IN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS

PURPOSE This study examined the effects of plyometric training on power and power-endurance performances in high school basketball players. METHODS Twenty male basketball players aged 16–19 years participated in this study. All subjects performed counter movement jumps (CMJ) and continue jumps (CJ) on a force platform to measure force, velocity, and power production during vertical jumping. The Wingate anaerobic test was performed on a bicycle ergometer, and the blood lactate concentrations were assessed before and at 5, 30 minutes after the test. Subjects completed these tests and were randomly divided into two groups, control and treatment. All subjects completed the usual preseason basketball on-court training and a weight-training program. Except that, the treatment group completed 8-wk plyometric training. Both groups were retested at the completion of the training period. RESULTS The peak and mean power of Wingate anaerobic test were significantly improved in the treatment group; however, the percent fatigue was unchanged. There were no significant differences at the time course of blood lactate concentrations in the pre-test between two groups. In particular, the blood lactate concentration at baseline in post-test in the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group. Furthermore, the treatment group produced significant increases in 1RM half-squat strength, and the jump height, power, velocity during CMJ over training period. There were significant differences only on the 1RM half-squat strength in the control group after training. There were no significant differences no significant differences on the numbers of jump (treatment: 42.0±15.8 to 45.6±15.7 times; control: 46.9±14.8 to 45.0±10.8 times), fatigue index hf (fatigue in jump height) and fatigue index Pavg (fatigue in average power) during CJ between two groups. CONLUSION These results lend support to the effectiveness of an 8-wk combination of weight and plyometric training for improving vertical jump and power performances in high school basketball players, but not the power-endurance.