Q: Hi Mike, I was wondering what the best way to progress jumps and plyos is with youth athletes? Would you recommend athletes be at a certain level of strength or training age prior to performing weighted jumps, depth drops etc?
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A: Slowly. There are limited reasons to rush any progression with youth athletes. They lack the hormones to have the maximal adaptations & on top of that, have the rest of their lives to progress and play. Make sure fundamentals are consistently done to perfection before increasing degree of difficulty. It’ll pay off in the long run.
Stick with:
- box jumps – bilateral and unilateral
- Squat Jumps – bilateral and unilateral
- Rudiment series
- Skill acquisition of basic landing/deceleration mechanics
- Fun jumps – for coordination not intensity
- 90/90
- 180’s
- 360’s
- Star Jumps
- Tuck Jumps
- Multidirectional Jumps