{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T13:14:30Z","timestamp":1783430070327,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782777600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Standard plyometric, flexibility and balance drills are central to youth rhythmic gymnastics but can be limited by repetitive monotony and reduced engagement. This study evaluated whether embedding plyometric or flexibility exercises within traditional games improves physical performance and lower-limb flexibility in young female gymnasts. Methods: Forty-two female gymnasts (age 13.7 \u00b1 1.5 years) were randomly assigned (1:1:1, permuted-block randomization with allocation concealment) to a game-based plyometric group (PECG), a game-based flexibility group (FECG), or a standard gymnastics control (GE). Over 8 weeks (five sessions per week) the experimental groups performed their protocols immediately before regular training, with load recalibrated every two weeks. Squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and hip flexibility were pre-specified primary outcomes; agility, Stork balance and Y-Balance were exploratory. Linear mixed models tested Group \u00d7 Time interactions, with within-group effect sizes expressed as Cohen\u2019s d. Results: Significant Group \u00d7 Time interactions emerged for the squat jump (F2,39 = 6.09, p = 0.005) and countermovement jump (F2,39 = 6.77, p = 0.003), favoring PECG (SJ \u03b2 = 1.90; CMJ \u03b2 = 1.86). FECG produced the largest flexibility gains, with significant Group \u00d7 Time interactions for hip abduction and left hip flexion; a marked within-group increase in right hip extension (\u03b2 = 2.65) was not accompanied by a significant interaction and is interpreted with caution. PECG also improved agility (p = 0.001), static balance and several Y-Balance directions. No injuries or dropouts were recorded. Conclusions: An 8-week game-based intervention enhanced physical performance in adolescent rhythmic gymnasts, with effects largely specific to the training modality: plyometric games improved explosive power, agility and dynamic balance, whereas flexibility games improved range of motion. Given the small sample, the findings should be regarded as preliminary and hypothesis-generating.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children13070884","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T03:06:34Z","timestamp":1782875194000},"page":"884","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Integrating Plyometric and Flexibility Exercises via Traditional Games in Youth Rhythmic Gymnastics: A Randomized Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5171-7026","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ghazi","family":"Racil","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa, Gafsa 2100, Tunisia"},{"name":"Research Laboratory (LR 23JS01) \u201cSport Performance, Health & Society\u201d Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 2086, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"Vando","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fitkion\u2014Center for Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Activity, 04100 Latina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4254-3105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johnny","family":"Padulo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1967-1640","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Domenico","family":"Martone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Economics, Law, Cybersecurity and Sports Sciences, University Parthenope, 80035 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.52165\/sgj.14.3.349-367","article-title":"Ballet in Rhythmic Gymnastics: Considerations About Technique and Instrumentation for the Sport","volume":"14","author":"Pizzol","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. 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