February 2019 Hangout: Plyometrics and Jumping

In this month’s hangout we look at plyometrics and jumping with a group of top coaches including René Sack, Vern Gambetta, Chris McCormick, and more. Topics covered:

• Plyometrics for bigger athletes and adapting plyometrics for athlete size.
• Volume and the power of fewer contacts.
• Testing ideas from German throws.
• Making jumps more specific for different events (e.g. hammer throw, discus, hockey, beach volleyball, etc.).
• Integrating plyometrics into technical training.
• Examples from Jimmy Radcliffe: progressions and task-relevant cueing.
• Barefoot jumping and jumping surfaces.
• Plyometrics in a team setting and group athletes appropriately.
• Adding variation and chaos to jumps, and using bands with jumping.
• Factors to consider in landing.
• Transfer of training and plyometrics.
• Transfer of performance between different types of jumps (one leg, two leg, with step, etc.).
• Plyometric training as a conversation stater with athletes.
• Countermovement jumping as a monitoring tool and adjusting training based on results.
• Plyometrics for endurance athletes.
• The role of strength in preparing for plyometrics and adjusting plyometrics based on strength.
• Plyometrics for swimming.