A Comparison of Training Method Effects on Strength and Power Development of Young Ethiopian Soccer Players

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess the effects of three different training methods on the development of explosive power and strength of young Ethiopian soccer players: resistance training, plyometric training alone, and mixed training, combining both plyometric exercise and resistance training. Participants in the study were 36 male U20 soccer players enrolled in Bahir Dar University Sports Academy's youth soccer training program. The authors used a "randomized block design," with a player's playing position serving as the stratum, to assign research participants to one of the three training programs (12 players in each of the plyometric, resistance, and mixed groups). These trainings were carried out with each group in accordance with the suggested exercises and training program for about four weeks in succession. The pre-test result showed that the dependent variables did not significantly differ between the groups. A post hoc MANOVA was employed to assess group differences, and partial eta-squared (ηp2) was utilized to compute the effect sizes. The result showed that there were significant main effects of the training method on ballistic strength F(2, 33) = 5.13, p = .012, ηp2 = 0.24 and explosive power, F(2, 32) = 12.10, p< .001, ηp2 = 0.44, but not on static strength, with the study participants in the plyometric training performing significantly better than those in the other two groups. Thus, it was concluded that plyometric training is better than resistance training and mixed training, which combined resistance training and plyometric training.