Enhancing explosive power in elite female basketball players through weightless circuit training
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v79.119181Keywords:
Squat, basketball elite, explosive, training, strengthAbstract
Background: Explosive power is an important component of athletic performance in female basketball players and must be trained.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of bodyweight circuit training on the explosive power of high-level female basketball players in Tirana, Albania.
Methodology: Total 46 players (mean age: 24-25 years) were divided into two groups: Experimental Group (EG) and Control Group (CG). Anthropometric measurements were taken from the experimental group (EG) (n = 13; 24.07 ± 2.1 years; 173.07 ± 5.3 cm; 70.99 ± 8.5 kg; and BMI 21.24 ± 1.6%) and the control group (CG) (n = 13; 25.3 ± 5.3 years; 175 ± 4.9 cm; 65.48 ± 9.7 kg; and BMI 21.4 ± 2.5%). The EG performed a circuit training program twice a week for 14 days (6 exercises). Both groups were assessed before and after the program using the following tests: squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and 40 cm squat jump (DJ) at Gross Flow Repetition Potential (GFRP).
Results: Paired t-tests were used to assess within-group differences. A p-value < 0.05 indicates statistical significance. 95% confidence intervals were applied to the variables.
Conclusions: A 14-week circuit training program with six exercises improves explosive power in female basketball players. Significant improvements in the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and drop jump (DJ) demonstrate the program's practical impact on individual and team performance.
References
Alemdaroğlu, U. (2012). The relationship between muscle strength, anaerobic performance, agility, sprint ability and vertical jump performance in professional basketball players. Journal of Hu-man Kinetics, 31(2012), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-012-0016-6
Bobbert, M. F. (1990). Drop jumping as a training method for jumping ability. Sports Medicine, 9(1), 7–22. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199009010-00002
Bompa, T., & Carrera, M. (2015). Conditioning young athletes. Human Kinetics.
Bompa, T. O., & Sarandan, S. (2022). Training and conditioning young athletes. Human Kinetics.
Cabarkapa, D., Philipp, N. M., Cabarkapa, D. V., & Fry, A. C. (2023). Position-specific differences in coun-termovement vertical jump force-time metrics in professional male basketball players. Fron-tiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1218234. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1218234
Canavan, P. K., & Vescovi, J. D. (2004). Evaluation of Power Prediction Equations: Peak vertical jump-ing power in women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(9), 1589–1593. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000139802.96395.ac
Castagna, C., Chaouachi, A., Rampinini, E., Chamari, K., & Impellizzeri, F. (2009). Aerobic and explosive power performance of elite Italian Regional-Level basketball players. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(7), 1982–1987. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181b7f941
Coh, M., & Supej, M. (2008). Biomechanical model of the take-off action in the high Jump: a case study. New Studies in Athletics, 23(4), 63–73. https://centrostudilombardia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008-Biomechanical-model-of-the-take-off-action-in-the-high-jump.pdf
Corredor-Serrano, L. F., Garcia-Chaves, D. C., Bernal, A. D., & Villay, W. S. L. (2023). Composición cor-poral, fuerza explosiva y agilidad en jugadores de baloncesto profesional (Body composition, explosive strength, and agility in professional basketball players). Retos, 49, 189–195. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v49.96636
Fleck, S.J. and Kraemer, W.J. (2004). Designing resistance training programs (3rd Edition). Human Ki-netics.
Hoffman, J. R., Epstein, S., Einbinder, M., & Weinstein, Y. (1999). The influence of aerobic capacity on anaerobic performance and recovery indices in basketball players. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 13(4), 407–411. https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-199911000-00018
Izquierdo, Mikel; Ibañez, Javier; González-Badillo, Juan J.; Gorostiaga, Esteban M. (2002). Effects of creatine supplementation on muscle power, endurance, and sprint performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 34(2), 332–343. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200202000-00023
Jukić, I., Milanović, D., & Vuleta, D. (2005). The latent structure of variables of sports preparation and athletic preparedness based on physical conditioning contents in basketball. Kineziologija. 37 (2), 182-194. https://hrcak.srce.hr/4132
Lleshi, E., & Kurti, S. (2024). Approaches on physiological changes in the performance of elite female basketball players. Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, 3(2), 238–250. https://doi.org/10.55860/djby5997
Malisoux, L., Francaux, M., Nielens, H., & Theisen, D. (2005). Stretch-shortening cycle exercises: an effec-tive training paradigm to enhance power output of human single muscle fibers. Journal of Ap-plied Physiology, 100(3), 771–779. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01027.2005
Mancha-Triguero, D., García-Rubio, J., Calleja-González, J., & Ibáñez, S. J. (2019). Physical fitness in bas-ketball players: a systematic review. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59(9), 1513–1525. https://doi.org/10.23736/s0022-4707.19.09180-1
Markovic, G. (2007). Does plyometric training improve vertical jump height? A meta-analytical review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(6), 349–355. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.035113
McInnes, S., Carlson, J., Jones, C., & McKenna, M. (1995). The physiological load imposed on basketball players during competition. Journal of Sports Sciences, 13(5), 387–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640419508732254
Mema, B., Lleshi, E., & Kushta, E. (2025). Impact of training on flight time in female volleyball players aged 13-14 years. Retos, 68, 148–158. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v68.111616
Montgomery, P. G., Pyne, D. B., Hopkins, W. G., Dorman, J. C., Cook, K., & Minahan, C. L. (2008). The ef-fect of recovery strategies on physical performance and cumulative fatigue in competitive bas-ketball. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26(11), 1135–1145. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410802104912
Petway, A. J., Freitas, T. T., Calleja-González, J., Leal, D. M., & Alcaraz, P. E. (2020). Training load and match-play demands in basketball based on competition level: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 15(3), e0229212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229212
Pleša, J., Slovenia, B. C. C. O. L. L., Hadzic, V., Sekulic, D., Gabrilo, G., & Sattler, T. (2025). Differences in jumping characteristics between different competitions in volleyball: a case report. Sport Mont, 23(3), 41–45. https://doi.org/10.26773/smj.251006
Tauda, M. E., Bravo, E. C., & Suárez, F. (2024). Análisis del perfil fisiológico y su impacto en el rendi-miento físico de jugadores de baloncesto. Kronos, 23(01–02). https://doi.org/10.64197/kronos.23.01-02.935
Vilela, G., Caniuqueo-Vargas, A., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Hernández-Mosqueira, C., & Da Silva, S. F. (2020). Efecto del entrenamiento pliométrico en la fuerza explosiva de niñas puberes practicantes de voleibol (Effects of plyometric training on explosive strength in pubescent girls volleyball play-ers). Retos, 40, 41–46. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v1i40.77666
Ziv, G., & Lidor, R. (2009). Physical attributes, physiological characteristics, On-Court performances and nutritional strategies of female and male basketball players. Sports Medicine, 39(7), 547–568. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200939070-00003
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Salvator Kurti, Benjamin Naku, Enkeleida Lleshi, Migena Plasa

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.