EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON BODY COMPOSITION AND MOTOR SKILLS IN FEMALE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

This paper aims to determine the impact of plyometric training programs of short duration (6 weeks) and high frequency (3 times a week) on the motor skills and body composition of female football players. The total number of participants was 24 female football players, four of whom were excluded due to absence from the final testing (mean value of height 167.53 ± 6.09; and mean value of weight 58.32 ± 8.87). The sample of variables used in the study, to which all the participants were subjected, represents the assessment of body composition, explosive power of the lower extremities, speed, agility, and endurance assessment. The results of the research showed that the six-week program of specific plyometric training for Serbian Super League football players in the basic preparatory period of the season did not affect statistically significant changes in the monitored body composition parameters. Also, the statistically significant changes did not occur in the parameters of explosive power and speed, which was expected according to the age category and level of competition of the participants, which was confirmed by previous research. The changes that occurred with high statistical significance are changes in agility tests with and without a ball as well as in the parameters of cardiorespiratory endurance.