Enhancing Physical Fitness and Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Junior Tennis Players: Evaluating the Influence of “Plyospecific” Training on Youth Agility

Abstract

Physical fitness is a crucial component of tennis performance, and improving agility and lateral movement can give young tennis players a competitive edge. By training with plyospecific exercises, which focus on explosive movements and plyometric exercises, junior players can improve their speed, power, and reaction time on the court. The paper aimed to evaluate the effects and benefits of a 10-week physical training program on the agility of junior tennis players, using the results of seven agility tests, applying statistical t-tests for paired and independent samples, and the difference-in-differences approach. In order to achieve this, a sample of 48 U16 male Portuguese tennis junior players was used. The empirical results indicated that the training program had a positive impact on the agility of the tennis players. Specifically, the results showed improvements in the T-test performance on both the right and left sides, as well as improvements in the Edgren test scores on the left and right sides. Additionally, there was an increase in the average number of lateral and forward movements, suggesting enhanced agility among the players. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the training program in improving agility-related skills and performance in tennis. Coaches can incorporate similar training methods and exercises to improve their players’ agility, leading to better performance on the court.