Plyometrics vs PAPE Training in Football: Effects on Agility, Explosive Power and Speed

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of 8 week plyometric training and post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) training on explosive power, agility, acceleration and sprint speed, muscle strength and flexibility in healthy male semi-professional football players aged 18-35.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does PAPE training have effects on performance metrics of football players when planned and applied long-term (8 weeks)?

Does long term PAPE training improve agility, acceleration and speed, flexibility, vertical jump height, and muscle strength more effectively than Plyometric training?

Is there a significant difference in performance gains between PAPE and plyometric training compared to a control group receiving only routine football training?

Researchers will compare a plyometric training group, a PAPE training group, and a control group to determine which method most effectively enhances football-specific performance outcomes.

Participants will:

* Be randomly assigned to one of three groups (Plyometric, PAPE, or Control)
* Continue their routine football training as usual
* Receive additional training sessions applied immediately after warm-up and before continuing regular team training alongside the Control group (for PAPE and Plyometric group)
* Undergo an 8-week training program (3 times per week for Plyometric and PAPE groups)

Assessments will be conducted at baseline, week 4, and week 8, including:

* Vertical Jump Test (explosive power)
* 30-Meter Sprint Test, including 10-meter acceleration recording
* Illinois Agility Test
* Isometric strength measurements of quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius using a handheld dynamometer
* Sit and Reach Test and Modified Thomas Test (flexibility)

In addition, all participants will complete a sociodemographic and lifestyle assessment form capturing:

Age, height, weight, BMI Football experience and playing position Education level, employment status Sleep duration, training frequency, and training intensity Smoking and alcohol use status.

Conditions

• Athletic Performance
• Football Players
• Sports Performance
• Sports Physical Therapy

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

PAPE Training

A neuromuscular activation protocol involving heavy banded squats (\~85% 1RM) to induce post-activation performance enhancement. Applied three times weekly over 8 weeks following the warm-up. Participants then continued with regular football training.

BEHAVIORAL

Plyometric Training

A program of depth jumps designed to enhance explosive power, speed, and agility. Applied 3 times weekly over 8 weeks following the warm-up. Participants then continued with their regular football training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istinye University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Habibe S. Inal, Prof. Dr · Galata University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-01

Primary Completion

2025-08-15

Completion

2025-10-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations