Background: Plyometric training is a form of conditioning with increasing popularity that involves the performance of body weight jumping type exercises with the use of the stretch-shortening cycle muscle action. It is widely accepted that plyometric training has beneficial effects on many sports, including soccer. Objectives: To assess the effect of plyometric training on explosive actions of soccer performance (sprinting, jumping, agility, ball kicking) and indicated the kind, the frequency and targeted age groups on which the plyometrics should be executed. Methods: A search for all types of trials was performed on Pubmed, Web of Science and Sport Discus databases and the results were recorded according to PRISMA recommendations. 24 studies were included and judged for risk of bias and quality of evidence according to Cochrane guidelines and GRADE. Results: The studies were judges to have “low”, “high” and “unclear” risk of bias and were judged as “moderate”, “low” and very low quality of evidence. The finding of most of the studies show that plyometric training has beneficial effects and statistically significant improvements on the explosive actions (sprinting, jumping, agility and ball kicking) of young soccer players between 10 and 19 years old. Conclusions: The level of evidence of the review is moderate which means that further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. The current study suggests that plyometric training can be beneficial for young soccer players when is applied with gradual intensity, frequency of 2-3 times per week and along with regular soccer and strength training. Future research of higher quality of evidence studies and lower risk of bias should be performed in this field.

The best results in a sprint running are based upon covering the distance in the shortest possible time, and therefore performance has to be maximized. To achieve the best performance, the sprinter has to develop the greatest forward acceleration, reach his/her maximal speed, and keep it over the run. The greatest anteroposterior acceleration is generated in the first stance of a sprint due to the greatest propulsive force production. Thus, the first step was selected to study induced accelerations by the main muscles of the lower limb. Since a wider step width was founded out to help with force generation during long foot-ground contacts, an elite sprinter with a wide step width was selected. Ankle plantarflexors were the main contributors to body propulsion and support, while knee extensors decelerated forward propulsion but induced medial accelerations. Hip extensors and hip adductors did not offer a remarkable contribution to body COM acceleration in any direction.

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