Basketball is an intermittent, high-intensity sport that requires strength, power and agility. These demands become particularly relevant during adolescence, a sensitive period in which well-structured training can enhance performance. Plyometric training, which optimizes the stretch-shortening cycle, has been proven to be effective in enhancing physical conditioning and reducing the risk of injuries in team sports. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze the effects of plyometric training on adolescent basketball players. A search was conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases until June 2025. We included randomized controlled trials analyzing plyometric training in adolescent basketball players. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale (PROSPERO: CRD420251084412). Thirty-three RCTs involving 1171 participants were included. Plyometric training significantly improved vertical jump performance (CMJ, SJ, DJ), speed, agility, balance, and lower-limb strength compared to regular basketball training. No significant effects were found for upper-body power or jumps involving arm swing (ABA and Sargent Jump), while evidence on flexibility, anaerobic endurance, power, and basketball-specific skills was inconsistent. Overall, plyometric training appears to be an effective conditioning strategy for adolescent basketball players.
Gómez-Carmona et al. (Thu,) studied this question.