Basketball Specific Jumping Drills

Becoming a successful athlete in Basketball lies in your ability to jump high.  A good vertical jump will allow you to have better rebounding and jump shot skills.  Before beginning your Basketball jumping drills, it is important that you warm up and do some stretching to avoid injury. 

 The following Basketball jumping drills can be done virtually anywhere and at anytime. 

Explosive Leaps

• One-legged jumps: jump as high as you can off one foot, then drop and immediately jump as high as possible off the opposite leg.  Repeat 10-15 jumps
• Two-legged jumps: squat down; explode up and off the ground as if you’re reaching.  Come down, pause for a second or two, repeat by jumping as high as possible.  Do this 8-10 times
• Can be done at a park, on a football field or anywhere with grass

Repeated Broad Jump

• Position yourself with legs shoulder width apart and then jump as high and far as possible
• Make a quick turn and then jump again
• Do this exercise on a soft surface so as to not injure yourself

When doing these drills, remember that vertical leap is about strength and explosiveness.  Remember to never push your body past its limit.  If you’re concerned about your jumping, ask a coach or someone knowledgeable in vertical leaping to check your form.  If you’re feeling pain, it is time to stop.

If you would like a program to outline exactly how to complete each exercise and coaching from a professional trainer, the Jump Manual is by far the best resource available.  Try it today.