Plyometrics are great for helping your vertical jump, but they are also great for bumping up you agility. You don’t even need to do plyometrics in big volume or over long periods — in fact, it’s better if you don’t! Continue reading

A study of British soccer players shows that heavy squats, regardless of speed at which they’re done, improve vertical jump and sprint ability. These athletes showed more improvement than those doing more reps with lighter weights. Continue reading

There are no “secrets” and don’t buy from anyone who says there are. There are fundamentals, proven by research, and you should stick to programs that adhere to fundamentals and keep abreast of the latest research. Continue reading

Research has shown over and over that plyometric training yields the greatest benefit when it comes to improving vertical jump performance, but some protocols are more effective than others. This article examines what the best research shows to be most and least effective. There are some surprises here. Continue reading

A number of studies have looked at how much plyometric training gives the maximal benefit and it turns out there’s a sweet spot: enough, but not to much. Read the full article for details. Continue reading

Olympic lifters have surprising vertical jump for such stocky guys. As it turns out, that’s because the explosive power used in Olympic lifting is just what you need to explode off the floor. Find out how Olympic lifting can benefit your vert training. Continue reading

Core training is a lot more than crunches. Here’s a selection of exercises to get you a strong core that will give you better power transfer from your legs. Continue reading

If you have strong legs and a weak core, that’s like mounting a cannon on a canoe. Read on about why core strength is crucial for jumpers. Continue reading

In Part I, we discussed the importance of body weight and leg strength. Now we’ll briefly look at plyometric jump training, mental preparation and calf strengthening. Continue reading

Part I of our tips to improve vertical jump covers weight loss and strengthening the major leg muscles with squats and deadlifts. Continue reading