The Effect of Plyometric and Sprint Drills on Motor Coordination and Reaction Time in Competitive College Athletes
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Abstract
This study examined the effects of structured plyometric and sprint training interventions on motor coordination and reaction time in competitive college athletes. A total of 84 Division II college athletes (42 males, 42 females) from track and field, basketball, and soccer programs were randomly assigned to three groups (n=28 per group): Group A received combined plyometric and sprint training, Group B performed plyometric training only, and Group C served as an active control group with standard conditioning. The 12-week intervention was implemented during the off-season training period, with sessions conducted three times weekly.
Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured motor coordination using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) adapted for adults, simple and choice reaction times using computerized testing systems, and sport-specific agility through the Illinois Agility Test and T-test protocols. Results demonstrated that the combined plyometric and sprint training group (Group A) achieved the most significant improvements in all measured parameters. Motor coordination scores improved by 23.8%, simple reaction time decreased by 12.4%, choice reaction time reduced by 15.7%, and agility performance enhanced by 8.9%. The plyometric-only group showed moderate improvements, while the control group exhibited minimal changes.
These findings indicate that combined plyometric and sprint training represents an optimal training strategy for enhancing neuromuscular function and athletic performance in college athletes. The integration of both training modalities appears to create synergistic effects that exceed the benefits of either approach used independently.
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References
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