Effects of neuromuscular versus plyometric training on physical fitness and mental well-being in male pubertal soccer players

Neuromuscular training (NMT) and plyometric training (PT) are commonly used during long-term athlete development, yet their relative effects on physical fitness and mental well-being are not fully understood. This study compared 8 weeks of NMT versus PT on physical fitness, mental well-being, emotional intelligence, and attention in pubertal male soccer players and explored associations between training-induced changes in these domains. Twenty-four male soccer players (12.3–12.5 years, circa-peak height velocity: − 0.7 to − 0.8) were randomly assigned to NMT or PT. Both groups trained twice weekly in addition to regular soccer practice. NMT included balance, strength, plyometric, change-of-direction, and agility exercises, while PT focused on bilateral and unilateral jump-landing drills. Training volumes were matched. Physical fitness tests included the five-time jump test, 20-m sprint, and 15-m change-of-direction speed test. Mental well-being outcomes included cognitive and somatic anxiety, self-confidence, attention, and emotional intelligence. PT led to larger improvements in jump, sprint, and change-of-direction speed performances, whereas NMT produced greater gains in self-confidence, anxiety regulation, attention, and emotional intelligence. A graphical summary illustrates the distinct physical and psychological adaptations to PT and NMT, highlighting their complementary nature. The observed fitness improvements significantly correlated with changes in psychological outcomes. These findings suggest that strength and conditioning professionals should prioritize PT when aiming to enhance physical fitness and NMT when targeting psychological well-being, supporting a holistic approach to athletic development in pubertal soccer players.