Two Reasons Why You Can"t Increase Jumping Ability
It is important to increase your jumping ability as it is an important measurable for many sports such as basketball, volleyball, and football.
Most coaches, from high school to the pros, use this measurement as part as an overall assessment of a players athletic ability.
If you want to make it to the next level, improving your vertical jump can increase your chances of doing so.
If you haven't been able to increase your jumping ability, here are some reasons that could be holding you back.
You're Too Heavy One thing you need to assess is your body type and conditioning.
It's possible you could be carrying too much fat for your body type or position.
The more you weigh, the more strength and speed it takes to jump higher.
All positions in each sport require certain body types therefore it's difficult to recommend a specific weight or body fat percentage.
If you are a lineman, don't get down to 250 lbs just to increase your vertical jump or you'll end up on the sidelines! The best way to lower you body fat is to clean up you diet and engage in high intensity exercise like sprinting and weight training.
Your diet should comprise of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and health fats.
Keep saturated fats, simple sugars (i.
e.
most junk food), and alcohol to a minimum.
You Are Too Weak Increasing your strength is a great way to increase your jumping ability.
Many athletes outside of sports such as football often neglect strength training because they believe the extra muscle will slow them down.
Strength training will actually have the opposite effect as long as you maintain your flexibility and reasonable body fat levels.
You need to strengthen your whole body to get that big vertical and become a better athlete.
Examples of strength training exercises include squats for legs, bench press for chest, military press for shoulder, stiff legged deadlifts for hamstrings and lower back, chin-ups and rows for upper back and lats, and calf raise for calves.
If you found it difficult to increase your jumping ability, it is possible you are not at your best condition or just not strong enough to make significant increases.
Improving body composition and strength are two components of a complete jumping program.
Most coaches, from high school to the pros, use this measurement as part as an overall assessment of a players athletic ability.
If you want to make it to the next level, improving your vertical jump can increase your chances of doing so.
If you haven't been able to increase your jumping ability, here are some reasons that could be holding you back.
You're Too Heavy One thing you need to assess is your body type and conditioning.
It's possible you could be carrying too much fat for your body type or position.
The more you weigh, the more strength and speed it takes to jump higher.
All positions in each sport require certain body types therefore it's difficult to recommend a specific weight or body fat percentage.
If you are a lineman, don't get down to 250 lbs just to increase your vertical jump or you'll end up on the sidelines! The best way to lower you body fat is to clean up you diet and engage in high intensity exercise like sprinting and weight training.
Your diet should comprise of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and health fats.
Keep saturated fats, simple sugars (i.
e.
most junk food), and alcohol to a minimum.
You Are Too Weak Increasing your strength is a great way to increase your jumping ability.
Many athletes outside of sports such as football often neglect strength training because they believe the extra muscle will slow them down.
Strength training will actually have the opposite effect as long as you maintain your flexibility and reasonable body fat levels.
You need to strengthen your whole body to get that big vertical and become a better athlete.
Examples of strength training exercises include squats for legs, bench press for chest, military press for shoulder, stiff legged deadlifts for hamstrings and lower back, chin-ups and rows for upper back and lats, and calf raise for calves.
If you found it difficult to increase your jumping ability, it is possible you are not at your best condition or just not strong enough to make significant increases.
Improving body composition and strength are two components of a complete jumping program.