Effects of a 6-week plyometric training program on performances in pubescent swimmers.

Potdevin, FJ, Alberty, ME, Chevutschi, A, Pelayo, P, and Sidney, MC. Effects of a 6-week plyometric training program on performances in pubescent swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 25(1): 80-86, 2011-This study examined in pubescent swimmers the effects on front crawl performances of a 6-week plyometric training (PT) in addition to the habitual swimming program. Swimmers were assigned to a control group (n = 11, age: 14.1 +/- 0.2 years; G(CONT)) and a combined swimming and plyometric group (n = 12, age: 14.3 +/- 0.2 years; G(SP)), both groups swimming 5.5 h center dot wk(-1) during a 6-week preseason training block. In the G(SP), PT consisted of long, lateral high and depth jumps before swimming training 2 times per week. Pre and posttests were performed by jump tests (squat jump [SJ], countermovement jump [CMJ]) and swim tests: a gliding task, 400- and 50-m front crawl with a diving start (V-400 and V-50, m center dot s(-1)), and 2 tests with a water start without push-off on the wall (25 m in front crawl and 25 m only with kicks). Results showed improvement only for G(SP) for jump tests (Delta = 4.67 +/- 3.49 cm; Delta = 3.24 +/- 3.17 cm; for CMJ and SJ, respectively; p < 0.05) and front crawl tests (Delta = 0.04 +/- 0.04 m center dot s(-1); Delta = 0.04 +/- 0.05 m center dot s(-1); for V-50 and V-400, respectively; p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found for G(SP) between improvements in SJ and V-50 (R = 0.73, p < 0.05). Results suggested a positive effect of PT on specific swimming tasks such as dive or turn but not in kicking propulsion. Because of the practical setup of the PT and the relevancy of successful starts and turns in swimming performances, it is strongly suggested to incorporate PT in pubescent swimmers' training and control it by jump performances.