| In volleyball, players with a large vertical jump are highly | | | | 3. Sprinting Drills - Long distance running is not good for |
| sought after at all levels. Players that can jump well | | | | increasing your vertical jump. Remember that we want |
| have an increased advantage over other players. | | | | to increase your explosive muscles. This will help you |
| Players with a high vertical jump will find it easier to hit | | | | explode when you jump. |
| and block. Although jumping well does not make you a | | | | For that reason, sprinting is a much better exercise for |
| great volleyball player by itself, it can help improve your | | | | increasing your jump. Make sure you jog for a minute |
| game and the competitive advantage you have over | | | | or two to warm up your muscles. Once you have |
| your competition. | | | | warmed up, sprint for as long as you can and as hard |
| The problem many players have is that they are | | | | as you can. When you get tired, slow it down to a |
| focusing on the wrong muscles when it comes to | | | | very slow jog. Once you regain your wind, repeat the |
| building their jumping muscles. You need to focus on | | | | sprinting. Do this five to seven times when you are |
| those muscles that will provide you with explosive | | | | training for volleyball. |
| power and the "fast twitch" muscles. Primarily, you will | | | | 4. Calf Raises - Here is another exercise for your |
| build your quads, your calves, and the buttocks. | | | | calves to increase your explosiveness. Calf raises |
| Use these strategies to improve your vertical jump as | | | | work best if you use some weights while doing them. |
| you are conditioning for volleyball: | | | | Stand with your feet spread apart so that your feet |
| 1. Jumping Rope - This is one of the best exercises | | | | are shoulder distance width. It works best if you do |
| you can do for volleyball if done properly. Not only will it | | | | three sets of 25 repetitions on each set. The first set, |
| build your fast twitch muscles, but it will also teach you | | | | point your toes out and do the repetitions. The second |
| coordination, timing, and increase your foot speed. All | | | | set, have the feet parallel in normal standing position. |
| of those are very valuable for a volleyball player. | | | | On the third set, have the feet pointing inward. By |
| The key to being effective in jumping rope is to keep | | | | adjusting your feet each time, you will work all of the |
| on your toes the entire time. Do not let your heels | | | | muscle groups in your calves. When doing each set of |
| touch the ground. By staying on your toes the whole | | | | 25 repetitions, do the first 15 in a slow, controlled |
| time, you are focusing the development on the calves. | | | | motion. The last 10 repetitions you should explode up |
| This is part of your fast twitch muscles that you need | | | | and get as high up on your toes as possible without |
| to develop. | | | | your feet leaving the floor. |
| 2. Power Squats - Power squats is an exercise | | | | 5. Lunges - Lunges are another great exercise to |
| where you are standing straight up with your feet | | | | strengthen your quads and buttocks. Adding weight |
| close together. From this position, you would then | | | | while doing lunges will provide added resistance and an |
| quickly crouch down in a squat position with the knees | | | | increased benefit while working out. Do as many |
| almost at a right angle. The hands swing forward in | | | | repetitions as possible so that your legs are |
| front of you as you are going down. Once you are in | | | | strengthened. |
| the squat position, you will then power back up to the | | | | These exercises will help you as you work on your |
| standing position and repeat this movement. | | | | volleyball jump training. Increasing your vertical jump is |
| Do as many as you can and as quickly as you can. | | | | an important aspect of playing volleyball. Increasing |
| This exercise will strengthen your quads and buttocks. | | | | your vertical jump will provide you with an advantage |
| These are your power muscles when it comes to | | | | over your opponent. And it is just fun to be able to |
| your vertical jump. This is another important exercise | | | | perform better than the other team. |
| for volleyball jump training. | | | | |