COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF CIRCUIT TRAINING AND PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH, SPRINT SPEED, AND AGILITY IN HOCKEY PLAYERS

Saurabh Dwivedi; Dr Megha Bhardwaj (PT); Dr Shubham Jha (PT)

doi:10.65327/bp.v12i2.2526

Authors

Saurabh Dwivedi Master in physiotherapy, Prakash Institute of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation and Allied Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar-Pradesh https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4988-0941
Dr Megha Bhardwaj (PT) Assistant professor, Prakash Institute of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation and Allied Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar-Pradesh https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5008-4758
Dr Shubham Jha (PT) Assistant professor, Prakash Institute of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation and Allied Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar-Pradesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3683-7887

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65327/bp.v12i2.2526

Keywords:

circuit training, plyometric training, hockey, muscular strength, sprint speed, agility, team sport conditioning

Abstract

Background: Hockey is a field sport of intermittent and high intensity where muscular strength, sprint speed and quick change of direction are all directly related to match outcomes. Coaches regularly employ circuit training and plyometric training to develop these qualities, but there are few comparisons between the two methods in a population of hockey players.
Objective: This study compared the effects of a four week circuit training programme and a four week plyometric training programme on maximal lower body strength, sprint speed, and agility in hockey players.
Methods: Thirty male hockey players (mean age 24.2 years) were allocated to a circuit training group (n = 15) or a plyometric training group (n = 15) and completed twelve supervised training sessions delivered across an eight week period. Strength was assessed with the one repetition maximum barbell back squat, speed was assessed with a 50 metre sprint, and agility was assessed with the T-test. Assessments were carried out before and after the intervention by testers following standardized protocols. Within group changes were examined with paired samples t-tests and between group differences were examined with independent samples t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Both groups improved significantly on all three outcomes (p < 0.0001 in every case). Strength increased by 12.1 percent in the circuit training group compared with 9.1 percent in the plyometric group, and this between group difference favoured circuit training (t(28) = 5.32, p < 0.0001, d = 1.61). Sprint time improved by 5.6 percent in the plyometric group compared with 3.3 percent in the circuit group, favouring plyometric training (t(28) = 7.45, p < 0.0001, d = -1.98). Agility improved by 6.1 percent in the plyometric group compared with 4.5 percent in the circuit group, again favouring plyometric training (t(28) = 5.04, p < 0.0001, d = -0.95).
Conclusion: Circuit training and plyometric training both produce meaningful gains in strength, speed, and agility in hockey players, but the two methods are not interchangeable. Circuit training appears better suited to developing maximal strength, while plyometric training appears better suited to developing sprint speed and change of direction ability. Coaches designing conditioning programmes for hockey players may benefit from combining or sequencing the two approaches according to the specific quality being targeted within a training block.

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