Mixed
Older basketball players (>16.3-17.15 years) experience significantly greater improvements in horizontal jump distance, linear sprint speed (>10m), and change-of-direction speed (<40m) from plyometric jump training compared to younger players.
If you are coaching older basketball players (late teens and above), prioritize plyometric jump training for maximum gains in speed and horizontal power. The benefits are significantly larger for this group compared to younger players. For younger players, PJT still helps, but the gains in speed and horizontal power are more modest.
Significantly greater improvements were apparent following PJT in older basketball players, as compared to their younger counterparts, for horizontal jump distance (>17.15 years of age, ES = 2.11; ≤17.15 years of age, ES = 0.10; p < 0.001), linear sprint time >10 m (>16.3 years of age, ES = 1.83; ≤16.3 years of age, ES = 0.36; p = 0.010), and change-of-direction performance time <40 m (>16.3 years of age, ES = 1.65; ≤16.3 years of age, ES = 0.75; p = 0.005).
Why this rating
Based on subgroup analysis of 32 studies; p-values are significant (<0.01).
Source
The effects of plyometric jump training on physical fitness attributes in basketball players: A meta-analysis
Rodrigo Ramírez‐Campillo et al. · Journal of sport and health science/Journal of Sport and Health Science · 2020
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