Are Vertical Jump Programs Effective ?

As an athlete and now the parent of two athletes and one dancer, I've learned a multitude of physical fitness techniques and eating habits for strong healthy bodies and the importance of good care for muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons.  Because jumping or leaping is involved in so many sports, from basketball to track and field and yes, even baseball and football on occasion, I've found that vertical jump programs can be easily implemented into any practice or work out session and discovered numerous benefits.

Last football season, one of my boys' football coaches brought in an agility trainer to help the team with their quickness, speed and overall body strength.  One of the circuits included a vertical jump program.  I watched even the biggest boys on the team go from jumping a mere three to six inches to approximately eighteen inches in about three weeks time.  As I observed the end of practice waiting to pick up my son,  I watched these drills wondering why a lineman needed to increase his vertical jump.  Then it dawned on me, that the focus wasn't increasing his vertical, it was simply a benefit he was gaining from the program.  Just as the rest of the drills, the real purpose of the vertical jump program was strengthening his whole core to increase agility and speed from line up to tackle.  The effect of the training was turning this big lineman's body into a taught spring or rubber band.  When the cadence of the quarterback called "hike" this young man unleashed with quick precise movements allowing him to block with accurate and incredible force to protect the ball carrier.

Another benefit of vertical jump programs is the protection of the joints.  During our younger years as we grow, our ligaments and tendons stretch at an incredible rate at times.  Since many of our bones are not connected yet, this can leave our joints unprotected.  Vertical jumping increases muscle which will assist the ligaments and tendons in protecting the joints.  Because vertical jump programs usually focus on the core muscles as well as the main leg muscles, overall strength is achieved which also teaches the body to distribute the work load thereby lessening the impact on the joints.

Finally, the most obvious benefit of increasing your vertical leap, jumping higher.  For basketball players, for high jumpers, hurdlers, and even dancers, the higher you can jump, the more successful you will probably become.  Those who increase their vertical sometimes give the impression that they can fly which is an amazing feat to both achieve and observe.  It can help a five foot nine inch basketball player achieve an NBA dream or an average high jumper win a gold medal at the Olympics.