The effect of plyometric training on developing the strength, speed, and quickness of the arms of junior guards activated by the hand

Abstract

Plyometric exercises are considered supportive exercises for the physical components of handball players, as they effectively contribute to improving abilities and consequently have a significant impact on performance levels through the movements and skills specific to handball goalkeepers. Hence, the importance of this research emerged in preparing plyometric exercises to develop certain physical abilities of goalkeepers, particularly explosive strength, and its reflection in enhancing the motor speed of the goalkeeper’s arms.

The researcher employed the experimental method using a single-group pretest-posttest design. The research population and sample consisted of youth handball goalkeepers selected intentionally. The sample included youth players from the 2024-2025 season affiliated with the National Center for Talented Athletes under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Baghdad, as well as training centers under the Ministry of Education represented by Al-Rusafa First, Second, and Third Education Directorates, and Al-Karkh First, Second, and Third Education Directorates for the youth category. The total number of goalkeepers was 30, representing 100% of the original population of youth goalkeepers.

The research sample specifically included 5 youth goalkeepers from the Sports Talent Center under the Ministry of Youth. The exploratory experiment sample consisted of 3 youth goalkeepers from Al-Karkh Sports Club.