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Main authors: Ricart-Luna, B., Domínguez-Navarro, F., Gene-Morales, J., Colado, J. C., Juesas, Á., Portes, R. & Chulvi-Medrano, I.

Physical performance in youth basketball is key to developing future talent. With this in mind, the L’Alqueria del Basket Basketball Chair, in collaboration with Valencia Basket, has led a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences.

The research demonstrates that both Olympic weightlifting and plyometrics improve the performance of young players in just four weeks.

The study

• Participants: 58 players between 12 and 16 years from the Valencia Basket youth academy
• Duration: 4 weeks with 3 weekly sessions of 45min
• Methodology: One group performed Olympic weightlifting (power cleans, snatches, overhead squats) and the other plyometrics (vertical jumps, multi-jumps, drop jumps).

Variables such as ankle mobility, hip strength, vertical and horizontal jump height, agility, and speed were measured.

Key results 

• Both program improved the mobility of the ankle and the hip strength, which are essential for preventing injuries and performing better on the track.
• The Olympic weightlifting was more effective for developing the grip strength and improving vertical jump
• The Plyometric excelled at improving agility, a crucial component for changes of direction.
• In the horizontal jump, the progress was similar in both groups 

Conclusion: Neither method is clearly superior, but both offer significant benefits in a short period.

Practical impact 

This study provides very useful insights for the day-to-day training of youth basketball players:

• Programs of only 4 weeks give measurable improvements.
• The Olympic weightlifting is particularly useful in the preseason stages, when the goal is to increase strength and power.
• The Plyometrics fits best during competition, to fine-tune agility and coordination.
• The sequential combination of both methodologies can open the door to cumulative effects on physical development.

Conclusion 
After four weeks of intervention:

• Olympic weightlifting and plyometrics are equally effective in improving the physical performance of adolescent basketball players.
•  No clear superiority of one method over the other was observed during this period.
• Olympic weightlifting excels in strength and vertical jump, while plyometrics excels in agility.
• Both methods are safe and recommended for inclusion in the physical preparation of young players at different phases of the season.

This work is part of the research line of the L’Alqueria Basketball Chair – University of Valencia, which seeks to translate science into the daily practice of players and coaches.

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