People involved in sports, in particular basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball, are frequently interested in finding a way to improve their vertical leap. There are many exercises and programs existing that are specially intended for improving a person’s jumping ability. Before starting any of these programs though, an athlete ought to at least be in good general physical shape. Here we go over a few exercises that you could start with before starting a training program. These will help get you started.
Warm Ups
Before beginning any exercises, you need to warm your muscles up. Jog around for ten minutes or run up and down the stairs for a while. It is also a good idea to stretch your muscles prior to beginning your exercises. Warming up before doing exercises helps you improve muscle fibers that are used during the jumping process.
Skipping Rope
Skipping rope is an exercise that is often overlooked, and shouldn’t be, as it will contribute to increasing the strength of your legs. It also helps maintain excellent cardiovascular condition. Perform this exercise for fifteen to 30 minutes on a regular basis.
Knee Raises
Grab an overhead bar firmly, with your arms about shoulder-width apart. Hang from the overhead bar, with your arms fully extended and knees bent slightly. Holding this position, slowly raise your knees towards your chest. Squeeze your stomach muscles during this process. Maintain this position for a few seconds, before lowering your legs back down. Repeat this five times.
Knee Bends
One of the best ways to improve your leg strength is with knee bends (also called squats). Stand in an upright position – straight, with chest out and with your back straight. Proceed to bend your knees slowly, maintaining a straight back. Crouch, in a slow movement, to the maximum possible extent. Repeat this process 20 times.
Toe Touches
Stand straight. Bend from the waist while keeping your legs straight. Continue bending down as far as you can go while trying to touch your toes with your fingers. Maintain this position for a couple seconds. Do this exercise slowly and do not “bounce” while trying to touch your toes. Do this 30 times.
Sit-Ups
Sit-ups will help improve your vertical leap. Begin with with your back flat on the floor, with your legs bent at the knees, and your feet flat on the floor. Place you hands behind your head. Now, curl your shoulders off the floor, in a slow movement. Continue to bring your body to an upright position. Try to not “pull” on the back of your head with your hands. Concentrate on making your stomach do the work. Exercises for your midsection are important for all physical activity as your ultimate all around strength and flexibility start here. Repeat this 10-20 times.
To get the most out of your vertical jumping exercises, you should consider a vertical jump training program. Check out these Vertical Jump Program Reviews to see which are rated the best and to get more information on How To Jump Higher.
Tags: how to jump higher, improve vertical jump, increase vertical jump, jumping exercises