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Effects of plyometric and combined resistance-plyometric training on agility and vertical jump performance in youth basketball players

Muhammad Syaifullah Irwan, Iman Sulaiman, Oman Unju Subandi · Sportis Scientific Journal of School Sport Physical Education and Psychomotricity · 2026

This study compared pure plyometric training to a combination of strength and plyometric training in 30 youth basketball players, measuring their vertical jump height, agility, and reactive strength before and after the intervention. The combined strength and plyometric group showed significantly greater improvements in all three measures compared to the plyometric-only group, with the combined approach producing larger gains in jump height (7.21 cm vs. 4.45 cm), agility speed, and reactive strength.
Takeaway: Add strength training to your plyometric workouts for better improvements in jumping and agility than plyometrics alone.
Abstract (source)

This study compared the effects of plyometric training and combined strength training on vertical jump performance, agility, and reactive strength in competitive youth basketball players. A parallel-group randomized controlled trial involved 30 male athletes (15–17 years) assigned to either a plyometric group (PLYO, n = 15) or a combined strength group (COMB, n = 15). Performance was assessed using countermovement jump (CMJ), T-test agility, and reactive strength index (RSI) before and after the intervention. Significant improvements over time were observed across all variables (p 0.05). However, significant group × time interactions were found for CMJ (F = 8.92, p = 0.006), agility (F = 10.37, p = 0.003), and RSI (F = 12.45, p = 0.002), indicating greater gains in the COMB group. Specifically, CMJ improved by 7.21 cm vs. 4.45 cm, agility by −0.86 s vs. −0.47 s, and RSI by 0.49 vs. 0.26 in COMB and PLYO, respectively. These

Findings: suggest that combined strength training elicits superior neuromuscular adaptations, likely due to enhanced force production and stretch–shortening cycle efficiency.

Randomized controlled trialOpen accessProgramming & PeriodizationWomen's & Youth Athletics
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