Store Locator

6 Exercises to Boost Your Vertical

Article provided by

Jump higher by adding jumping drills to your workouts twice a week using the schedule below. You'll begin with drop squats and progress to more challenging movements once you're comfortable with the technique.

The more technically difficult jumps pose greater challenges to your hips, knees, and torso, so become proficient before progressing in order to get the most benefit and reduce your risk for injury. You may feel like you've honed your mechanics after a few workouts or several weeks. So move at your own pace, but always focus on form.

Sample 6-Week Schedule

Week 1-2

Drop Squat
Off Box Stabilization
Squat Jump - Non-countermovement

Weeks 3-4

Off Box Stabilization
Squat Jump - Non-countermovement
Box Blast - Non-countermovement

Weeks 5-6

Box Blast - Non-countermovement
Squat Jump with Countermovement
Drop Squat to Jump and Stabilize

Exercise Details

 

1. Drop Squat

How to: Stand tall with your arms bent and your forearms pointing straight up. Rapidly drop down into a squat by bending your knees, pushing your hips back and down, and throwing your elbows back behind you. Start with 1 set of 5 reps. 

Coaching Tip: Allow your feet to lift slightly off the floor as you squat.

2. Off Box Stabilization

How to: Stand on a box with your arms at your sides and your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Step off the box and land with your hips back and down, and arms pulled straight behind you. Repeat for a set of 5.

Coaching Tip: Anticipate the ground and land softly with your chest up and hips back.

3. Squat Jump – Non-Countermovement

How to: Stand tall with your hands behind your head and feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Drop your hips back and down into a squat position. Next, jump straight up, pulling your toes toward your shins in mid-air. Land in the squat position and pause. Stand and repeat the move for 1-2 sets of 5 reps.

Coaching Tip: Land softly with your chest up and hips back. Stabilize yourself and reset before each repetition.

4. Box Blast – Non-Countermovement

How to: Stand with one foot flat on a box and your elbows cocked back and bent to 90 degrees. Jump straight up, exploding through your front leg and swinging your arms up. Land softly with the same foot on the box. Do 1-2 sets of 5 reps with each leg.

Coaching Tip: Think about moving through your hips and knees at the same time as you jump and land. 

5. Squat Jump with Countermovement

How to: This move is similar to its non-countermovement counterpart. Stand tall with your arms bent in front of you. Squat back and down while drawing your arms behind you, and then immediately jump straight up, extending through your hips and swinging your arms forward. Land softly in a squat position, stand, and repeat the move. Perform 1-2 sets of 5 reps.

Coaching Tip: Push through the arches of your feet to explode up.

6. Drop Squat to Jump and Stabilize

How to: Begin by performing a drop squat (see above). Once you arrive in the squat position, without pausing, immediately leap straight up. Generate force by swinging your arms forward and extending through your hips, knees, and ankles. Land softly with your knees bent, hips back, and arms behind you. Continue for 1-2 sets of 5 reps.

Coaching Tip: Land in the same position as you take off, absorbing the force through your hips.

 

About the Author
Craig Friedman  |  Vice President of Innovative Team

Craig brings a variety of performance training experience to the Athletes' Performance staff, including work at the International Performance Institute, extensive time traveling on the WTA professional tennis tour, consulting with a variety of training centers across the country, and lecturing at conferences and in the classroom both nationally and internationally.

As Director of Methodology for Athletes' Performance, Craig designs and implements performance training systems for professional athletes of all sports as well as elite youth through college athletes. He also continues to specialize in MLB spring training preparation at the Arizona facility and served as a Performance Specialist for the German National Soccer Team during their run to a 3rd place finish at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He is also involved with numerous developmental initiatives integrating performance training and technology for both Athletes' Performance and Core Performance as a leader of the Performance Innovation Team at Athletes' Performance.

Craig received both his MS and BS degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he worked with the Women's Athletic Training Department. He gained additional experience as a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona as the Assistant Football Athletic Trainer, where he was responsible for the acute care, assessment, and rehabilitation of injured players before shifting his emphasis toward performance training.