Effect of Bodyweight Training on Basketball Skills for Middle School in the People's Republic of China

Background and Aims: Basketball is a widely popular sport in China, contributing significantly to physical development and professional opportunities for young athletes. However, limited muscle power in shooting skills among high school players remains a barrier to competition success. This study aimed to investigate the effects of plyometric training on muscle power related to basketball shooting among high school students in Yichun, Jiangxi Province. Methodology: The study utilized a quasi-experimental design. A sample of 60 students was selected from an initial population of 84 through performance-based screening in free-throw shooting. Participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group, each comprising 30 students. The experimental group engaged in plyometric training combined with regular basketball shooting drills, while the control group practiced standard shooting exercises. Training occurred three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) over eight weeks. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered at the start, the 4th week, and the 8th week. Data were analyzed using dependent and independent t-tests. Results: Both groups showed improvements in basketball shooting performance over time. However, the experimental group that received plyometric training demonstrated significantly greater enhancements in muscle power and shooting performance compared to the control group. At week 8, the experimental group's shooting scores increased from a pre-test mean of 37.33 (SD = 1.03) to 42.16 (SD = 0.49), which was statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Conclusion: Plyometric training effectively enhanced muscle power and improved basketball shooting performance among high school students. This suggests that integrating plyometric exercises into basketball training programs could be beneficial for skill and strength development.