subject: Basketball Jumping Routines - Help Or Hinderance? [print this page] Okay, so who doesn't want to be at the top of their game? Thought so, no hands went up. If we all want the same excellence in our endeavours, what is it that sets the gods apart from the mortals? Obviously it's the approach. Improved basketball jumping being no exception, what are the subtleties involved?
People train for years and still do not achieve their maximum, however it is possible with the right training and the right techniques to get the most from your potential.
There are some basic rules to basketball jumping that can help to cut back the wasted time and effort of doing the wrong things and which can help almost everyone begin to do the right things. None of this is easy though. If someone promised you that you could train and improve your jump with no effort and with no training, it is unlikely you would believe him or her, and you would be right.
1. Consistency is key to any training programme and especially when training the vertical jump. You cannot work for a day or so, take a month off and then work for another few days and hope to improve your performance. This might seem obvious, but all too often it is overlooked and this takes discipline.
2. Do not train for endurance. Strength is essential to getting the best vertical jump. However, it is strength and quickness combined that produce the results. It's a falsehood to think that stamina training is going to help; since you are not pacing yourself when you jump, you are instead applying an incredible amount of force with speed in one explosive jump.
Even if you can't do as many reps by training hard, you are achieving a push and this results in an increase in jump height.
3. Do not settle for a single approach to training to jump higher. If you train only your leg muscles, you are bound to improve. There are however, lots of other areas of study and application that will boost a vertical max. If you approach it from a narrow angle saying, "All that is needed is more strength and speed" you miss the other factors, which will help you achieve the most from your training and improve your jump. Positive thinking, food intake and recuperation are some of the other key criteria that have to be considered.
4. You are what you eat and even the most disciplined athlete can be eating the wrong foods. Sadly, the day to day realities of work, training, study and social life restrict ideal diet conditions. Not many people can stop and eat 10 times a day but there are proper ways to eat well and increase your muscle mass without trying to devote all your time to cooking and eating.
5. Training programs are essential but only if they make sense. Most players are hungry for a shorter route to bigger jumps. There are many programmes out there offering to do just that. However, if it doesn't make sense, or promises that you gain muscle and improve your basketball jumping without effort, then it is more than likely something you should think about long and hard before wasting your time and money.
Getting the maximum vertical jump is not impossible but it will take discipline, commitment and a plan to achieve.
