The Utilisation of Plyometric Means in the Development of the Explosive Force in the UPB Cheerleading Team

Plyometrics is a method used in the development of the explosive force, which, by improving the springiness, can lead to obtaining high performances. The aim of the paper is to optimize the training of the students from the U.P.B. cheerleading team, through the elaboration and implementation of lessons of plyometric operational structures focused on the development of the explosive strength. The research methods used were as follows: bibliography documentation, the direct and indirect observation method, the experimental method, the statistical and mathematical method, the grading method and the video recordings. These were used to assess the level of the explosive strength development through the testing of three specific gymnastic jumps: the sissone jump, the nest jump, the long jump. The experimental research took place in the Sports Hall of the U.P.B. in the period of November 2016 - May 2017, on a sample of 16 students (divided into 2 groups: experimental and control), aged 19 and 20. The training program of the experimental group took place over 20 weeks in 40 lessons training, during which we applied the independent variable, respectively specific plyometric means. During the implementation of the experimental operational structure, put in practice on the basis of planned training lessons, we noticed significant progress in the experimental group compared to the control group with all the parameters evaluated and tested. The attestation and validation of the results obtained from the research carried out, highlights the efficiency of the newly introduced methods in the organization, the conduct and the objectivization of the training done with the experimental group. This represents a personal contribution aiming to improve the content of the instructive-educational process.