1Ms. Upasna, 2Dr. Varender Singh Patial
1Research Scholar - Department of Physical Education, IIMT University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Professor, Department of Physical Education, IIMT University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v8-i03-61Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT:
Track and field athletes require superior speed and agility to excel in competitive events. This study investigates the impact of a 12-week structured plyometric training program on these motor abilities. A total of 34 track and field athletes (aged 18-25 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=17) and a control group (n=17). Speed was assessed using the 50-Meter Sprint Test, and agility was measured through the Shuttle Run Test. A pre-test and post-test experimental design was employed, with data analyzed using a 2×2 repeated measures ANOVA. Results revealed a significant improvement in the experimental group’s sprint performance (6.68% reduction in sprint time, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.54) and agility (2.83% reduction in agility time, p = 0.014, η²p = 0.17). These findings suggest that plyometric training effectively enhances neuromuscular function, acceleration, and change-of-direction capabilities in track and field athletes. The study highlights the importance of plyometric interventions in athletic conditioning programs and suggests further exploration of sport-specific adaptations.
KEYWORDS:Plyometric Training, Motor Abilities, Speed and Agility, Track and Field Athletes, Neuromuscular Adaptations
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