Train to Jump Higher for Volleyball

Having the ability to jump high in volleyball is important for the purpose of blocking shots and executing spectacular spikes. It does not matter if you are short or tall, everyone can benefit from adding a few more inches to their vertical jump. To train to jump higher requires a few basic principles you must follow to achieve your goal.

When you undertake a jump program you need to keep in mind that it can take months before you can see some real gains. Consider this as a long term program and not a quick fix and you will have a better chance to succeed. A side benefit of training to jump higher is you will be able to accelerate faster from a dead stop when you need to change positions.

If I were to pinpoint one key thing that would help you jump higher it would be stronger legs. The legs are what propel you upwards off the court be it wood or sand. So you need to strengthen the thigh and hip muscles as the first priority and next would be the calves.

Squats and dead lifts are the two most important strength exercises you should be doing, not only will they strengthen the thighs but you also get a whole body workout. Calve raises are needed for the lower legs. If you are just starting out at trying to jump higher, do the strength building for at least a couple months.

The next thing that you need to work on after the strength building would be explosive strength. This is accomplished by doing plyometrics which involve various jumping exercises done explosively. Not only will this help you jump much higher, this will also help your acceleration from a dead start. Plyometrics are stressful to your joints and it is recommended not to do these more than two or three times per week.

It would be best to find a good program that would show you how to train correctly so you can focus on doing the right things. Do not expect overnight results as this is a long term commitment but if you want to jump higher these are the things that you must do.

Discover how to Jump Higher by using the methods shown at http://www.squidoo.com/vertical-jumping. Tim Archbold's lifelong interests are fitness training and health.