Introduction: Speed and power are two major determinants of athletic fitness and performance, which play a key role in most sports. Therefore, an appropriate training program to increase speed, agility and explosive power can be a prerequisite for coaches and athletes success.
Methodology: In this research, 24 athletic men were randomly divided into four groups: experimental (Plyometric Training group (PT), Resistance Training group (RT), Concurrent Training group (CT) and control group. They participated in the training, one session a week for six successive weeks. Each session lasted for 90 minutes. They participated in two tests: strength (the Swedish swimming, sit-ups) and power (vertical jumps, horizontal jumps).
Results: The results of study revealed that in plyometric group, significant increases occurred in the Swedish swimming, sit-ups, horizontal jumps in comparison with control group. In the resistanance group and concurrent group significant increases were observed in the Swedish swimming, sit-ups and horizontal and vertical jumps in comparison with control group.
Discussion: Positive changes in power, after such a short training period as in the present study, could be associated with the neural components of adaptation, specifically with an increased neural drive to the agonist muscles and changes in the muscle activation strategies (i.e. improved inter muscular coordination), or changes in the mechanical characteristics of the muscle tendon complex. Therefore, it seems that, plyometric training especially concurrent training