SPEED ENHANCEMENT THROUGH COMBINED PLYOMETRIC AND SKILL TRAINING: AN 8-WEEK STUDY ON BEGINNER FENCERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60081/SSHA.3.1(Spl).2025.487-492Keywords:
Plyometric training, Fencing drills, 50-Meter Dash, Speed development, Beginner fencers, AAHPER, ANCOVAAbstract
This study investigates the impact of an 8-week plyometric-weight training and fencing-specific skill training program on the speed of beginner fencers aged 10–19 years from Karnal District, Haryana. Sixty beginner fencers were purposively selected and randomly divided into two equal groups: an experimental group (n=30) receiving the integrated training program, and a control group (n=30) undergoing standard fencing training. The 50-Meter Dash Run Test from the AAHPER Youth Physical Fitness Test (1976) was used to assess speed before and after the intervention. Descriptive statistics revealed a significant improvement in post-test speed scores for the experimental group (M=7.08, SD=0.26) compared to the control group (M=7.71, SD=0.29). ANCOVA results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the groups (F=137.42, p<0.001), with post hoc analysis indicating a mean difference of -0.63 seconds (p<0.001) favoring the experimental group. The results confirm that a combined plyometric-weight and skill-specific training regimen is effective in improving speed performance among beginner fencers. This research underlines the importance of targeted physical conditioning programs for youth athlete development.
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