Plyometric, speed and combined training interventions: Impact on agility and muscular endurance in female volleyball athletes

This study examined the effects of plyometric training, speed training, and combined training on agility and muscular endurance among female volleyball athletes. Forty-five intercollegiate female volleyball players (aged 18-24 years) from Theni District, Tamil Nadu, were randomly assigned to three groups: Plyometric Training Group (PTG), Speed Training Group (STG), and Combined Training Group (CTG), with fifteen participants in each group. The training intervention lasted for eight weeks with three training sessions per week. Agility was assessed using the Illinois Agility Test, while muscular endurance was measured through push-up and sit-up tests following standardized procedures. Statistical analysis using paired ‘t’ tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant improvements in both agility and muscular endurance across all groups at the 0.05 level of significance. However, the combined training group demonstrated significantly greater improvements compared to the plyometric and speed training groups. Post-hoc analysis further confirmed the superiority of combined training in enhancing these physical fitness components. The findings indicate that integrating plyometric and speed training provides a more effective training stimulus for improving agility and muscular endurance in female volleyball players. Therefore, coaches and strength and conditioning professionals may adopt combined training programs to optimize performance outcomes in volleyball athletes.

This study investigates the impact of different training interventions on agility and muscular endurance in female volleyball players.