Acute effects of plyometric exercises versus static stretching on sprinting and jumping performance among UiTMNS FC soccer players

Soccer requires explosive performance such as rapid sprint acceleration and high jumping ability, making effective warmup routines essential for athlete readiness. This crossover experimental study compared the acute effects of plyometric exercises and static stretching on seventeen male semi-professional soccer players from UiTMNS FC. Participants completed both warmup conditions separated by a seventy-two-hour resting period before undergoing twenty-meter sprint tests and vertical jump assessments. The statistical findings revealed that plyometric protocols using the stretch shortening cycle significantly improved sprinting and jumping performance compared to static stretching, which yielded limited gains and potentially reduced maximal force output.