Working with NBA players as the Head Strength Coach of the LA Lakers I meet plenty of dudes who can jump. Training for power and explosiveness is more complex than simply doing more squats and more jumps. You have to translate the power and explosiveness into sport-specific actions.
Benefits: This drill trains the lower body for the power and explosion needed for a great vertical leap but it also puts it into context. It combines footwork and lateral movement with a vertical leap in a very sport specific action. My favorite part of this exercise: it demands sound landing mechanics - what goes up must come down and it better come down correctly! This isn't just for basketball players either. The fundamental actions of jumping, landing and changing directions that this drill trains are applicable to nearly any sport.
RELATED: The Most Underrated Skill In Fitness & Athleticism - Deceleration & Landing
Applications: Pair this exercise with a deadlift or a squat to convert your strength into power, plug it into a work capacity circuit for conditioning or let it be a star in your lower body plyometric exercise workouts.
Like what you read?
Sign up now to get the latest tips and advice
Tim DiFrancesco, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS spent 6 seasons as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and and is the founder of TD Athletes Edge. He is nationally renowned for his evidence-based and scientific approach to fitness, training, nutrition, and recovery for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
For training and nutrition advice, follow us on:
• Twitter http://twitter.com/tdathletesedge
• Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tdathletesedge
• Instagram http://instagram.com/tdathletesedge
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/tdifranc1
• Sign up for our newsletter and follow our blog at http://www.tdathletesedge.com
