Improving Vertical

[Essen]

Guys -

Currently I'm working with a team of U16 players. Talented guys who have very good fundamental skills. However they lack height. I'm talking that our current center is 6'4".

Recently I've noticed that two of the boys that are only 5'11" that can dunk it, consistently out rebound the taller opposition because of their superior athleticism.

I want to improve the vertical (hops) of the other players so that we can earn more offensive rebounds and give away less.

Obviously this would be a long conditioning process but does anybody have any ideas? (I'm already trying squats to improve calf strength)

[Sixers Fan]

Yeah, basically just a bunch of different exercise to improve calf strength.

- If you have a bench or something to use (that's about mid-thigh height), you can have them stand in front of it with one foot on the bench. Then have them jump up, pushing only with the foot on the bench (bit hard to explain) - swap feet each time.

- Stand on the edge of a step (heel off the edge), then lower and raise the heel.

- Sets of two-footed vertical leaps, only using toes - take off as soon as landing (add a rope and call it skipping, but generally you'd want to jump a bit higher than that)

There are more...

[Kingshood]

Check out plyometrics, there will be various execises under that classification which will increasing your vertical (eg bounding).

[BlowJoggs]

Guys -

Currently I'm working with a team of U16 players. Talented guys who have very good fundamental skills. However they lack height. I'm talking that our current center is 6'4".

Recently I've noticed that two of the boys that are only 5'11" that can dunk it, consistently out rebound the taller opposition because of their superior athleticism.

I want to improve the vertical (hops) of the other players so that we can earn more offensive rebounds and give away less.

Obviously this would be a long conditioning process but does anybody have any ideas? (I'm already trying squats to improve calf strength)

I know you're asking about verticals so your best bet would be plyo's but if you're dilemma is shorter players outrebounding them, surely it's more to do with them not boxing out rather than not jumping high enough.

If someone is springing to the rebound, someone obviously didn't put a body to them. You can fly high all you want but if you do it with someone in front of you, it's an over the back foul. Unless you're a Wollongong Hawk, then anything goes. :D :D :D

mate send me a email or add me to msn, i have a great program for ya

[Essen]

I know you're asking about verticals so your best bet would be plyo's but if you're dilemma is shorter players outrebounding them, surely it's more to do with them not boxing out rather than not jumping high enough.


I'm meaning my players getting outrebounding by taller players. As in the opposition "pluck it outta the sky".

:)