Impact of Plyometric Training Methods on Athletic Performance and Detraining Processes in Youth Female Soccer Players

Lower extremity strength, explosive power, dynamic balance, and functional range of motion are critical determinants of athletic performance and injury prevention in soccer (football). While plyometric training is widely used to improve these qualities, the comparative effects of bodyweight plyometric training versus externally loaded plyometric training, and the maintenance of these effects during detraining periods, remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of two different plyometric training methods on athletic performance and subsequent detraining processes in young female soccer players. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: Bodyweight Plyometric Training Group (BW-PT), External Loading Plyometric Training Group (EL-PT, who will wear vests weighing 10% of their body weight), and Control Group (CG, who will only continue with routine soccer training). Training interventions will be conducted for 6 weeks, immediately followed by a 4-week detraining period. To comprehensively assess athletic performance, the following measurements will be taken at baseline (pre-test), immediately after the training period (post-test), and after the detraining period (maintenance test): Isokinetic muscle strength of knee extensors and flexors (peak torque and force development rate at 60°/s and 120°/s), Jumping performance (standing long jump, vertical jump height, and 15-second repeated jump test), Functional range of motion (via Functional Movement Screen - FMS), Dynamic balance (via Y-Balance Test). The primary objective is to determine which plyometric loading strategy, compared to traditional soccer training, provides superior and longer-lasting physiological and biomechanical adaptations in young female athletes.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy; Athletic Performance; Detraining
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Body-Weight Plyometrics; Other: Additional Loaded Plyometric; Other: Routine Football Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Fatih GUR, PhD; Phone Number: +90 258 236 14 88; Email: fatihgur@pau.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Denizli
    • Denizli, Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye), 20160
      • Pamukkale University, Faculty of Sport Sciences
      • Contact: Fatih GUR, PhD; Phone Number: +90 258 296 14 88; Email: fatihgur@pau.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• No history of surgery due to musculoskeletal injuries within the past 6 months.
• No use of ergogenic supplements within the past 3 months.
• Regular participation in routine team training sessions for at least 2 months prior to the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of any recent injury requiring a recovery period of more than one week.
• Use of ergogenic aids or nutritional supplements during the intervention period.
• Missing two consecutive or four non-consecutive training sessions during the study period.
• Participation in additional structured physical training or exercises outside of the routine team practices and the study protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Body-Weight Plyometric Training Group; Participants in this group will perform plyometric training using only their own body weight.	Other: Body-Weight Plyometrics; A structured plyometric training program performed twice a week for six weeks. Exercises include various jumps and bounds using only the participant's body weight. Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Experimental: Plyometric Training Group With Additional Load; Participants in this group will perform plyometric training while wearing a weighted vest equal to 10% of their body weight.	Other: Additional Loaded Plyometric; A structured plyometric training program performed twice a week for six weeks. Participants will wear a weighted vest equivalent to 10% of their body weight during the exercises. Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Active Comparator: Control Group; Participants in this group will continue their routine football training without any additional plyometric exercises.	Other: Routine Football Training; Participants in this group will continue to perform their standard, routine football training sessions. They will not receive any additional or structured plyometric training program during the intervention period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Absolute Peak Torque (APT) of Knee Extensors and Flexors	Concentric isokinetic absolute peak torque (APT) of the knee extensors and flexors (dominant leg) will be evaluated at 60°/s and 120°/s angular velocities using a Cybex Humac Norm dynamometer during 5 maximal repetitions. (Unit of measure: Nm)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Relative Peak Torque (RPT) of Knee Extensors and Flexors	Concentric isokinetic relative peak torque (RPT) of the knee extensors and flexors (dominant leg) will be evaluated at 60°/s and 120°/s angular velocities using a Cybex Humac Norm dynamometer during 5 maximal repetitions. (Unit of measure: Nm/kg)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Time to Peak Torque (TPT) of Knee Extensors and Flexors	Concentric isokinetic time to peak torque (TPT) of the knee extensors and flexors (dominant leg) will be evaluated at 60°/s and 120°/s angular velocities using a Cybex Humac Norm dynamometer during 5 maximal repetitions. (Unit of measure: milliseconds)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Average Peak Torque (AvPT) of Knee Extensors and Flexors	Concentric isokinetic average peak torque (AvPT) of the knee extensors and flexors (dominant leg) will be evaluated at 60°/s and 120°/s angular velocities using a Cybex Humac Norm dynamometer during 5 maximal repetitions. (Unit of measure: Nm)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Average Rate of Force Development (AvRFD) of Knee Extensors and Flexors	Concentric isokinetic average rate of force development (AvRFD) of the knee extensors and flexors (dominant leg) will be evaluated at 60°/s and 120°/s angular velocities using a Cybex Humac Norm dynamometer during 5 maximal repetitions. (Unit of measure: Nm/s)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Vertical Jump Height (VJH)	Vertical jump height calculated from flight time will be evaluated using an electronic contact mat system (Fusion SmartJump, Fusion Sport, Australia). Participants will perform a countermovement jump without arm swing. The best value from 3 repetitions, separated by 1-minute rest intervals, will be recorded. (Unit of measure: cm)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Standing Long Jump (SLJ) Distance	Horizontal jump distance will be assessed. Participants will perform a maximum distance jump with two feet from behind a starting line. The best value from 3 repetitions will be recorded. (Unit of measure: cm)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
15-Second Repeated Jump Test: Average Power (RJ15s-AP)	Average power (RJ15s-AP) will be evaluated during 15 seconds of continuous maximal vertical jumps using an electronic contact mat system (Fusion SmartJump, Fusion Sport, Australia). Participants will jump with hands on hips and an upright trunk. The value is calculated using the Bosco equation. (Unit of Measure: W)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
15-Second Repeated Jump Test: Flight Time (RJ15s-FT)	Flight time (RJ15s-FT) will be evaluated during 15 seconds of continuous maximal vertical jumps using an electronic contact mat system (Fusion SmartJump, Fusion Sport, Australia). Participants will jump with hands on hips and an upright trunk. The value is calculated using the Bosco equation. (Unit of Measure: ms)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
15-Second Repeated Jump Test: Number of Jumps (N-RJ15s)	The number of jumps (N-RJ15s) will be evaluated during 15 seconds of continuous maximal vertical jumps using an electronic contact mat system (Fusion SmartJump, Fusion Sport, Australia). Participants will jump with hands on hips and an upright trunk. (Unit of Measure: Count)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Movement Capacity	Functional movement capacity and potential asymmetries will be evaluated using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) kit, which consists of 7 movement patterns scored from 0 to 3 (max total score: 21). (Unit of measure: Score on a scale from 0 to 21)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).
Dynamic Balance and Neuromuscular Control	Dynamic balance will be measured using the Y-Balance Test kit. Reach distances in three directions will be normalized to the participant's leg length to assess lower extremity neuromuscular control and asymmetry. (Unit of measure: Percentage)	Baseline (Week 0), immediately post-training (Week 6), and after the detraining period (2nd and 4th week).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pamukkale University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: GUR, Pamukkale University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 19, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 19, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 10, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Plyometric training; Jump performance; Isokinetic strength; Neuromuscular control; Female football players
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-60116787-020-811428; 2026TAP009 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. The informed consent obtained from the participants does not include provisions for public data sharing. Furthermore, preserving the privacy and complete anonymization of the participants in this small, cohort-specific sports science study is a priority, which restricts the feasibility of sharing individual-level data.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No