How to Improve Your Vertical Jump

To be able to jump higher is every jumping athlete’s dream. To be able to compete effectively, athletes must do everything within their power to achieve this goal. Regular exercises must be done while proper dieting and enough rest must always be maintained.

Many jump programs are available, especially online. For additional help, it might be wise to get a vertical jump coach as well.

The first thing an athlete must consider in order to jump higher is to lose weight. Body fat slows the body down as well as gives other competitors an edge.

The second thing an athlete must do in order to jump higher is to build base strength by doing simple relevant exercises such as squats, calf raisers, transverse abdominal exercises, hip flexor exercises, abdominal exercises, toe exercises, and upper body exercises. Regular sprinting, stretching, as well as taking the stairs instead of the elevator are ways to develop one’s vertical higher. By doing these exercises regularly, great health and great vertical ability will be developed over time.

Here is an exercise for gaining vertical height. First, flex your hips at 30 degrees. Also, flex your ankles at 25 degrees in order to generate power without injuring the knees. Be careful that your knees do not point inwards at this stage. Make sure that the knees are positioned over the second toes. Place the arms at the side. Push your body up with your legs spinning off the balls of your feet, at the same time swinging your arms up into the air towards the ceiling for momentum. While doing this exercise, breathe outward, land on the balls of your feet and roll on to your heels. Make sure to bend the knees to absorb the shock.

An athlete can improve his flexibility by jumping over hurdles and ropes. While jumping over hurdles and ropes, the athlete is able to swing his leading leg in order to maximize the momentum of the jump. If the athlete is not flexible, an imbalance of strength will be developed thus limiting his ability to jump higher.

In order for an athlete to increase his vertical jump also, he must spent time focusing on his strength training (lifting weights). The faster an athlete can lift a weight, the better it will be for him.

For proper safety measures, an athlete must not overdo workouts and must not push himself beyond his limits.