IMPACT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING AND STATIC STRETCHING IN FEMALE ADOLESCENT HANDBALL PLAYERS BY USING SARGENT JUMP TEST: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Introduction: Handball is a high-intensity sport requiring explosive lower-limb power for jumping, sprinting, and rapid directional changes.Stretching and plyometric exercises are commonly incorporated into training programs; however, evidence comparing the effects of static stretching and plyometric training on vertical jump performance in female adolescent handball players is limited.

Aim: To compare the effects of plyometric training and static stretching on vertical jump performance in female adolescent handball players using the Sargent Jump Test.

Method: An experimental study was conducted on 40 female adolescent handball players aged 15-17 years, selected through convenient sampling.Participants were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (Static Stretching, n=20) and Group B (Plyometric Training, n=20).Both groups underwent their respective intervention protocols for 3 weeks (4 sessions per week) following a standardized warm-up.Vertical jump performance was assessed using the Sargent Jump Test before and after the intervention period.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, with

Significance: set at p < 0.05.

Result: Both groups demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in Sargent Jump Test performance following the intervention (p < 0.05).The plyometric training group showed a greater mean improvement compared to the static stretching group.However, between-group comparison revealed no statistically significant difference in post-intervention jump performance.