In basketball, being able to jump high is a very big advantage. This would allow you to shoot more baskets accurately since you would be doing it from a great height. However, not all people are born with this ability. Most of the time, these people would have to work really hard on to increase the height of their vertical jumps. Even professional athletes would have to train to maintain or improve their skills.
In order to be able to jump high, you must work on your leg muscles. You must strengthen them so that you would get more force when lifting off. Doing regular leg exercises would certainly do that for you. Crouches and jumps are greatly recommended. Do these regularly and you would see a definite improvement in your muscle tone? Jumping rope is actually another very good exercise in improving your leg muscles. If you get bored with the usual jump up and down method, you could vary it by playing with your foot work.
Weight is another great factor in jumping. You could not get a good jump if you are heavy. So if you are more on the heavy side, it is about time that you shed off some of those pounds. Do some cardiac exercises and watch what you eat. Dieting alone is not enough, and same goes with exercise. Once you lose some of that weight, you would see that you are now able to jump higher because you are now basically lighter. If you observe some of the basketball players, even the amateur ones, you would see that those who jump the highest are usually the lightest.
Shoes make a big difference when it comes to jumping. No, this is not an advertising strategy, but a fact. You shoes should be light weight and must have good cushioning. These are not for jumping alone but for support as well. You would need good cushioning to prevent injury to your knees. Choosing a great pair of shoes would also boot your level of confidence, making you jump higher.
Some experts say that there is also a psychological factor that is involved in jumping. Have you ever noticed that when you are in a bad mood or is depressed, you game playing is affected? Well, I guess the quote “heavy heart” is really applicable when it comes to jump heights. It even becomes a bit literal don’t you think? So the next time you play, try to enjoy the game instead of focusing on beating your enemy into a pulp. Think Peter Pan, “happy thoughts.”