Effect of vertical, horizontal, and combined plyometric training on jump, sprint and change of direction performance in male soccer players

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of vertical (VPT), horizontal (HPT) and combined vertical and horizontal (V+HPT) plyometric training on sprint, jump and change of direction (COD) performance in adult male soccer players. Method Participants were randomly allocated into VPT (n = 8), HPT (n = 8) and V+HPT (n = 8) groups which undertook eight weeks of PT, executing 100 foot contacts per session, twice weekly. Results Though demonstrably effective, no specific one of the three applied programmes enhanced performance to a greater extent than another with only the 40 m sprint for the HPT group (mean difference = 0.07 s [HPT] vs. 0.04 s [VPT] and 0.04 s [V+HPT]) and the vertical jump for the V+HPT group (mean difference = 4.5 cm [V+HPT] vs. 4.0 cm [VPT] and 3.25 cm [HPT]) appearing to deviate from a uniform pattern of group level adaptation across the performance tests. Conclusion A total volume of 100 foot contacts per session, twice per week for eight weeks was sufficient to achieve the observed changes. Though jump and changing direction performance were enhanced, linear sprint performance was largely unchanged and so a more complete and intense programme may have been warranted. No method was superior to another in eliciting changes across these tests and a directionally-specific pattern of adaptation was not apparent.