Thesis (MSportwet)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a six-week plyometric
training programme on the explosive power, speed and agility as well as certain
physiological characteristics and the physical fitness of rugby players. Thirty subjects,
that include the first and second rugby teams of the Paul Roos Gymnasium participated in
the study. After a thorough evaluation of their medical history, their health status was
confirmed as being “apparently healthy” and fit for participation in the project.
The subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group followed a specially
designed plyometric training programme in addition to their conventional rugby training,
while the control group persisted with the conventional rugby training for the season.
Body fat percentage was measured and specific girth measurements were taken to assess
physiological changes. Cardiovascular fitness was evaluated by means of the threeminute
step test and muscle endurance by means of the push-up and sit-up tests in order
to assess the physical fitness of the subjects. The explosive power, speed and agility of
the subjects were assessed by means of the agility test [T-drill], ten-meter speed test,
Sargent vertical jump test, depth jump test, standing triple jump and the medicine ball
chest pass. All measurements and tests were taken before and after the six-week
intervention programme of plyometric training.
With regards to physiological changes the results showed that the plyometric training
programme had a positive effect on the experimental group. The body fat percentage of
the experimental group showed a significant decrease and the circumference of their
thighs, calves, arms and waist increased. Their chest circumferences did, however, not
increase, which might be due to the fact that the plyometric exercises were more
specifically aimed at the lower body muscle groups.
The results pertaining to physical fitness were mixed. There was a significant
improvement (p<0,01) in the cardiovascular fitness of the experimental group while that of the control group stayed relatively constant (p=1,0). With regards to muscle endurance,
the control group fared significantly better in the push-up test than the experimental
group, while the experimental group fared significantly better in the sit-up test than the
control group.
The six-week plyometric intervention programme had a statistically significant effect on
the performance of the experimental group as compared to the control group, when
biomotor skills were assessed.
It was concluded that the addition of the specific plyometric exercises to a conventional
rugby-training programme would improve the speed, explosive power and agility of
rugby players significantly. Beneficial anthropometric changes as well as improved
cardiovascular fitness would be additional benefits of a plyometric training programme.
The findings of this research suggest that the value of plyometric exercises to motor
skills, specific physiological characteristics and physical fitness should not be
underestimated and that the trainers and coaches should be informed in this regard. To
establish the positive effects of plyometrics as a functional cross training regime for
rugby players, more comprehensive research is, however, recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die navorsing was om die effek van ‘n ses-weeklange pliometriese
oefenprogram op die eksplosiewe krag, spoed, ratsheid asook sekere fisiologiese
karaktereienskappe en die fisieke fiksheid van rugbyspelers te ondersoek.
Dertig spelers, wat lede van die eerste en tweede rugbyspan van Paul Roos Gimnasium
hoërskool ingesluit het, het aan die studie deelgeneem. Na deeglike evaluering van hulle
mediese geskiedenis, is hulle gesondheidsvlakke goedgekeur vir deelname in die studie.
Die spelers is in twee groepe verdeel. Die eksperimentele groep het ‘n spesiale
pliometriese oefenprogram gevolg, saam met die konvensionele rugby-oefensessies. Die
kontrole groep het slegs aan die konvensionele rugby-oefensessies vir die seisoen
deelgeneem.
Persentasie liggaamsvet en spesifieke omtrekmates is genoteer om die fisiologiese
veranderinge te evalueer. Kardiovaskulêre fiksheid is deur middel van ‘n drie-minute
opstaptoets geëvalueer en spieruithouvermoë deur middel van opstoot-en opsittoetse om
sodoende die speler se fisieke fiksheid te evalueer. Die ratsheid, spoed en eksplosiewe
krag van die spelers is deur die ratsheidstoets (T-drill), tien-meter spoedtoets, Sargent
vertikale sprongtoets, diepte sprongtoets, staande driesprong en die medisynebal-gooitoets
bepaal. Al die bogenoemde toetse en assessering is voor en na die ses-weke
intervensie program van pliometriese oefening gedoen.
Met betrekking tot die fisiologiese veranderinge, dui die resultate aan dat die pliometriese
oefenprogram ‘n positiewe effek op die eksperimentele groep gehad het. Die
eksperimentele groep se persentasie liggaamsvet het beduidend verlaag en daar was ‘n
neiging tot toename in omtrekmates van die bobeen, kuite, arms en middel. Die borsomtrekmate
het egter nie vergroot nie, en kan toegeskryf word aan die feit dat die
pliometriese oefenprogram op die ontwikkeling van die spiere in die onderlyf gefokus
het. Die resultate ten opsigte van die fisieke fiksheid was eenders vir die twee groepe. Daar was ‘n neiging tot verbetering in die kardiovaskulêre fiksheid van die
eksperimentele groep, terwyl die kontrole groep konstant gebly het. Met betrekking tot
spieruithouvermoë het die kontrole groep in die opstoottoets verbeter in vergelyking met
die eksperimentele groep. Die eksperimentele groep het egter weer verbeter (p<0,01) in
die opsittoets, terwyl die kontrole groep konstant (p=1,0) gebly het.
Die eksperimentele groep het statisties betekenisvol in die biomotoriese vaardigheidtoetse
verbeter na die ses-weeklange pliometriese oefenprogram. Die kontrole groep het geen
verbetering getoon nie.
Die gevolgtrekking is dat ‘n kombinasie van ‘n pliometriese oefenprogram en
konvensionele rugby-oefening kan lei tot die verbetering van spoed, eksplosiewe krag en
ratsheid van spelers. Positiewe antropometriese veranderinge sal addisionele voordele
van die pliometriese oefenprogram wees.
Die bevinding van die navorsing is dat die waarde van pliometriese oefening vir
biomotoriese vaardighede, spesifieke fisiologiese eienskappe en fisieke fiksheid nie
onderskat moet word nie en dat afrigters in hierdie opsig ingelig word. Om die positiewe
effek van pliometrie as ‘n funksionele alternatiewe oefenmetode vir rugbyspelers te
bewys, word meer intense navorsing oor die effek van die spesifieke oefenmetode
aanbeveel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16420 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Retief, Francois |
| Contributors | Venter, R., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xvii, 142 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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