Why Aim to Jump Higher? Increasing Vertical Jumps and Plyometrics

People from different fields of sports, particularly volleyball and basketball, repeatedly ask this question: What can I do to jump higher? Although not all types of sports require players to improve on their vertical jumps, athletes who can jump higher have bigger advantages over average jumpers. A number of sports disciplines also assess and evaluate vertical jumps on a routine basis, specifically during physical examinations.

In basketball, for instance, jumping and dunking the ball in the ring accounts for a lot of points. That is why basketball players aim to increase their vertical jumps: they want to score more points during a game. On the other hand, volleyball players positioned in front of the net jump repeatedly to hit the ball or block it from entering their side of the court. It is therefore fitting to conclude that improving their vertical jumps is an excellent way to enhance physical prowess in their chosen field of sport.

With proper training techniques, you can actually increase the height of your vertical jumps. As a matter of fact, to boost vertical jump power, athletes, coaches and trainers make use of various types of training. The most common type of exercise used by numerous athletic circles is plyometrics.

In plyometric training, the muscles are trained to exert maximal force with the shortest amount of time possible. Given that vertical jumps start from a standstill position, plyometric exercises will beyond doubt help in increasing the height of each vertical jump. The result of which is an enhanced overall performance in sports such as basketball and volleyball.

With the different lower body plyometric exercises and the repetitive nature of the activities, the muscles of the legs are continuously overloaded thereby developing speed and power with every jump. The anticipated outcome of proper and regular plyometric training is explosiveness, which is a unique and ideal combination of speed and power.

So with every training session, the joints are reinforced making them ready for better and higher vertical jumps. In addition, strengthening the lower body joints will also help out in keeping injury at bay during training sessions and actual competitions.