The Effects of Push-Up and Plank Exercises on Volleyball Smash Accuracy Among Budi Agung High School Students

Abstract

Objectives:
This study aims to analyze and empirically prove the effect of push up training, plank training, and a combination of both exercises on improving volleyball smash accuracy among extracurricular students at SMA Budi Agung Medan in the 2025/2026 academic year.

Materials and Methods:

The research method employed was a pre experimental design utilizing a One Group Pre test and Post test Design. The population comprised all 20 male students participating in the volleyball extracurricular program, all of whom were selected as samples using total sampling.

Results:
The results and data analysis using descriptive statistics and inferential testing (Paired Sample t Test and Multiple Linear Regression via SPSS v29) revealed: (1) Push up training significantly increased arm muscle power from a pre test mean of 23.15 kg to a post test mean of 35.65 kg (mean gain = 12.50 kg; t calculated = 30.685; p = 0.000 < 0.05), contributing 69.6% (r² = 0.696) to smash accuracy; (2) Plank training significantly enhanced core stability from a pre test mean of 3.42 m to a post test mean of 5.24 m (mean gain = 1.82 m; t calculated = 29.088; p = 0.000 < 0.05), contributing 66.5% (r² = 0.665) to smash accuracy; (3) The combined intervention of push up and plank exercises simultaneously had a highly significant impact on improving volleyball smash accuracy scores from a pre test mean of 11.45 (Poor category) to a post test mean of 19.15 (Good category), yielding an average gain of 7.70 points.

Conclusions:
In conclusion, the combination of push up and plank exercises provides an effective contribution of 83.5% toward enhancing volleyball smash accuracy among extracurricular students at SMA Budi Agung Medan.