Abstract:
Developing effective plyometric training program for football players is a strategy for improving physical fitness and football skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks plyometric training on physical fitness and football skills in the case of Jaragedo secondary school male students’ football project. To achieve the purpose of the study all 28 players were selected purposely to conduct the study and these subjects also grouped as COG (n=14) with the age of 18.357+0.929 and EXG (n=14) with the age of 18.349 + 0.919 by using simple random sampling method, lottery system. The study employed quasi-experimental research design within 12 week plyometric training program. Experimental group performed plyometric training for 3 days per week from 40-60 minutes per session on Monday, Wednesday and Friday however, control group did not perform this plyometric training, both groups engaged in the regular football training program. The selected physical fitness and football skills were strength, speed, power, accurate pass, and accurate shoot and long pass. Field tests were taken as data gathering instruments. These were wall sit test to measure lower body strength, 30 meter sprint test to measure maximum speed, vertical jump test to measure explosive lower body power, passing accuracy test to measure accurate pass, shooting accuracy test to measure accurate shoot and long pass clearance test to measure kicking for distance. Test results were taken from both control and experimental groups as pre and post-test before and after the interventions. Raw data were analyzed statistically by using paired sample T- test SPSS, version 20 and significance difference was used at P<0.05 level of confidence. After analyzed the raw data, the mean difference and P-value (P<0.05) of experimental group showed statistical significant improvements on each variable whereas the mean difference and p-value (P>0.05) of control group didn’t show significant improvements on each variables. As the analyzed data results showed on each variables the mean difference and P- value 0f both groups were; strength COG, MD = 0.286 & P = 0.559 while EXG MD = 5.343 & P = 0.001, speed MD = 0.021& P = 0.551 while EXG MD = - 0.409 & P = 0.004, power MD = 0.429 & P = 0.139 whereas EXG MD = 6.643 & P = 0.001, passing accuracy COG MD = 0.143 & P = 0.635 while EXG MD = 2.143 & P = 0.019, shooting accuracy COG MD = 0.143 & P = 0.710 while EXG = 3.357 and COG = 0.357 & P = 0.005 and long pass clearance MD = 0.357& P = 0.001. Based on this finding it can be conclude that twelve weeks plyometric training has significant effect on selected physical fitness and football skills in Jaragedo secondary school male students’ football project. Keywords: plyometric training, physical fitness, football skills