Effects of Pilates Training on Physical, Physiological and Psychological Performance in Young/Adolescent Volleyball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Young athletes are constantly developing, and their performance reflects this ongoingprocess. By understanding performance variations and implementing appropriate training strategies,coaches and stakeholders can help young athletes develop their skills and athletic potential, aswell as psychological well-being. Volleyball skills, such as explosive strength and serving precision,play a crucial role in determining the outcomes of volleyball matches. In contrast, mental wellbeing contributes to enhancing psychological performance. This prospective, randomized, parallelgroup trial investigates the effectiveness of Pilates for young volleyball players. We investigatedwhether Pilates improves certain individual volleyball skills (explosive strength and serving precision)and certain psychological aspects (state of mindfulness) in young, male, 12–14-year-old athletes.Participation in this 12-week study involved 40 athletes (PG = 20; CG = 20). The Control Grouphad regular training and the Pilates Group had regular training plus twenty-four additional Pilatessessions. The Pilates Group showed a significant improvement in the variables under investigation by4–7% (p < 0.001). Pilates training can improve individual volleyball skills in young male athletes andmay also benefit overall psychophysical development. This study suggests that incorporating Pilatesinto training programs for young volleyball players can be beneficial for individual skill developmentand potentially overall psychophysical well-being, assuming an important role in the educationaldevelopment of the young