This is copied and paste from Nelio Maura about assisted squat jumps…So you can argue between yourselfs…lol…would like to hear your thoughts…
RITZDORF (1998) suggests that decreasing the external loads when performing jumps is a
good stimulus to develop the explosive strength’s velocity component. He says that new motor
programs- predominantly fast- can be developed with the systematic use of some facilitation
method (like external pull supports), and that these short time programmes can be reproduced when
the facilitation is removed. Even athletes predominantly fast, but without a good level of strength,
could lose some characteristics of their fast motor programs if they do not have the opportunity to
train them due to the low level of physical condition. We use surgical tubes attached to belts to
create a vertical traction that decreases the weight of the jumper, so he can jump with very short
contact times and produce high muscle shortening speed. Considering this is a method that provokes
a central nervous learning effect, it is used by athletes of all age groups- it is a special method, but
not restricted to elite athletes.