Abstract

Purpose:
The use of resistance and plyometric training (RPT) to aid the development of sport-specific anaerobic capabilities is becoming widely acknowledged as a key training modality within badminton (Sturgess & Newton, 2008). However published, recommendations for optimal frequency and duration of RPT within a typical microcycle are sparse. The aim of this case study was to assess the response to and ‘withdrawal’ of incorporating one weekly 60-minute RPT session, over an 8-week period on badminton specific functional performance with an elite England under-19 badminton player.

Methods:
This case study featured a male England under-19 international badminton player (Age: 18 years, Height: 1.77m, Mass: 81.5kg), possessing two years experience of general resistance training, however with no history of any sport-specific RPT. The athlete completed the RPT intervention once-a-week during the competitive badminton season. The session featured a combination of multi-joint strength training exercises, medicine ball throws and plyometric jumps. The exercises were chosen in accordance with recommendations for elite badminton players (Sturgess & Newton, 2008) and modifications of exercises advocated to improve power (Foran, 2001; Ooi et al, 2009). Performance testing was conducted at three different time-points; baseline, post-intervention (8-weeks) and after withdrawal from the RPT programme (16-weeks), to monitor any changes in badminton specific functional performance. This followed an A-B-A withdrawal design as recommended for single-subject research (Kinugasa et al, 2004). Anaerobic power was assessed via a countermovement jump (CMJ), a standing long jump (SLJ), and both one- (1-MBT) and two-arm (2-MBT) medicine-ball (2kg) throws. Acceleration was assessed by 5- and 10m run sprints. Agility was determined by badminton specific assessments the ‘sideways’ and ‘four-corner’ tests (Ooi et al. 2009).

Results:
Following the 8-week RPT programme increases in anaerobic power were apparent as evidenced by increases in CMJ (6.2cm), SLJ (0.13m), 1-MBT (2.25m) and 2-MBT (0.26m). However, speed and agility performance was relatively unchanged. After the 8-week withdrawal period (at 16-weeks), there was a decline in anaerobic power with decreases in CMJ height (-4cm), SLJ (-0.04m), 1-MBT (-0.05m) and 2-MBT (-0.52m). However, there were small improvements in 5- and 10m sprint times (-0.11s and -0.12s) and side-ways agility (-0.39s).

Conclusion:
A low-frequency in-season badminton specific RPT programme provided favourable increases in anaerobic power development in badminton specific tests. However, improvements post RPT were not sustained following the withdrawal period. The improvements in speed and agility following the withdrawal period were likely due to specific conditioning effects of the competitive season.