EFFECTIVENESS OF PLYOMETRIC EXERCISE IN SPORTS GESTURES IN CHILD SOCCER PLAYERS AGED 10 TO 12 YEARS
Keywords:
plyometric training; youth football; sports gestureAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0445
Abstract
Plyometric training has established itself as one of the most widely used strategies to enhance the physical abilities that influence sports performance during the formative stages of football. In this sense, the present research aimed to analyze the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of plyometric training in the sports gesture of soccer children aged 10 to 12 years through a systematic review of the literature. To this end, a search of studies published between 2021 and 2026 was carried out in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, SpringerLink and Google Scholar databases, considering previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. As a result, eleven experimental investigations were selected, among which randomized controlled trials predominated. The findings showed that the training programs, mostly developed over six to eight weeks with a frequency of two or three weekly sessions, generated significant improvements in variables associated with the sports gesture, such as vertical jump, sprint speed, acceleration, agility, change of direction, reactive strength and muscle power. In addition, some studies have shown benefits related to the reduction of functional asymmetries and the improvement of mental well-being. Overall, the evidence analyzed allows us to conclude that plyometric training is an effective strategy to optimize physical and neuromuscular performance in soccer players aged 10 to 12 years, so it represents a very useful tool for training planning in training categories. Even so, it would be advisable for future research to incorporate larger sample sizes, a more balanced participation of female soccer players and standardized intervention protocols, in order to strengthen the available scientific evidence.
Keywords: plyometric training; youth football; sports gesture.
Downloads
References
Chaabene, H., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Moran, J., Schega, L., Prieske, O., Sandau, I., Negra, Y., & Behrens, M. (2025). The era of resistance training as a primary form of physical activity for physical fitness and health in youth has come. Sports Medicine, 55(9), 2073–2090. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02240-3
Hammami, A., Hammami, R., Mahmoudi, A., Rebai, H., Saez-Berlanga, A., Gene-Morales, J., Juesas, A., & Colado, J. C. (2025a). Effects of plyometric training on physical performance and mental well-being in young soccer players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 43(23), 2927–2941. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2567786
Hammami, R., Mahmoudi, A., Hammami, A., Gabbett, T. J., & Chaouachi, A. (2025b). Neuromuscular and plyometric training in youth puberal soccer players: Adaptations in physical performance and functional capacities. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 39(8), 1845–1856. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000005210
Holík, R., Krejčí, J., De Ste Croix, M., & Lehnert, M. (2026). The effect of plyometric training on physical performance in youth soccer players: A randomized controlled trial with maturation status as a covariate. PLOS ONE, 21(5), e0349011. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349011
Kumar, N. T. A., Oliver, J. L., Pedley, J. S., Dobbs, I. J., Wong, M. A., Lloyd, R. S., & Radnor, J. M. (2025). Maturity-related adaptations to combined traditional resistance and plyometric training in pre- and post-peak height velocity boys. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 39(10), 1034–1045. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000005177
León-Muñoz, A., Rey, E., Padrón-Cabo, A., & Barcala-Furelos, R. (2024). Effects of an 8-week combined plyometric and change of direction training program on athletic performance in youth competitive soccer players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 19(4), 382–391. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2023-0284
Liu, Y., Wang, X., & Xu, Z. (2024). Micro-dosing plyometric training enhances reactive strength index and acceleration in competitive youth soccer players: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, 1342109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1342109
Martín-Moya, R., Ruíz-Montero, P. J., & Comunidad-Aragón, R. (2023). Integración de la pliometría y técnica de carrera en el rendimiento del salto y cambio de dirección en futbolistas en etapa formativa. Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación, 48, 512–520. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v48.96812
McGarrigal, L. D., Morse, C. I., Sims, D. T., & Stebbings, G. K. (2025). Effect of in-season plyometric training and biological maturation on development of slow and fast stretch-shortening cycle function in youth female soccer players. European Journal of Sport Science, 25(11), e70053. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70053
Oliver, J. L., Ramachandran, A. K., Singh, U., Ramirez-Campillo, R., & Lloyd, R. S. (2024). The effects of strength, plyometric and combined training on strength, power and speed characteristics in high-level, highly trained male youth soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 54(3), 623–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01944-8
Padrón-Cabo, A., Rey, E., Kalén, A., & Costa, P. B. (2021). Effects of a 6-week plyometric training program with agility ladder on physical performance in youth soccer players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 79(1), 205–214. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0072
Puco Toaquiza, J. C., & Sangucho Hidalgo, M. E. (2025). Entrenamiento pliométrico y su incidencia en la aceleración y agilidad en futbolistas escolares. Sphaera: Revista de Actividad Física y Deporte, 7(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10451298
Ramirez-Campillo, R., Thapa, R. K., Afonso, J., Perez-Castilla, A., Bishop, C., Byrne, P. J., & Granacher, U. (2023). Effects of plyometric jump training on the reactive strength index in healthy individuals across the lifespan: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 53(5), 1029–1053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01825-0
Sammoud, S., Nevill, A. M., Negra, Y., & Chaabene, H. (2024). Effects of a multidirectional plyometric training program on reactive strength index and functional asymmetries in prepuberal soccer players. Pediatric Exercise Science, 36(2), 115–124. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2023-0091
Yang, G., Chen, W., Qi, D., Zhang, J., & Men, Z. (2024). The effects of a 6-week plyometric and sprint interval training intervention on soccer player’s physical performance. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 23(3), 526–536. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2024.526
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 GESTAR Arbitrated Scientific Journal in Health Research. ISSN: 2737-6273.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
