3 Ways To Increase Your Hops This Summer

As a senior in high school I could barely touch the rim. Confident and far from discouraged, I had to come up with a plan to increase my jumping ability. So I put together a summer routine that would bring me closer to my goal of dunking. As I tried so many different training techniques, I came to the conclusion that 3 simple exercises along with stretching, would be the key to my success. Add these to your workout and you will begin to soar!

1. Jump Rope - I try to jump rope 4-5 times a week. It’s an amazing tool that helps you stay on your toes and improve your agility. I started with a simple goal of 200 skips. Eventually I got to the point where I was jumping rope for 15-20 minutes straight. It’s an amazing exercise to use before your game to get warm. After years of using the rope I saw my hops increase drastically! Add it to your summer regimen.

2. Running Hills - Hills are the perfect tool for strengthening your legs. I started running hills about 2-3 times a week. Mixing up my routine each set. Sometimes I would run straight up, run backwards, bound jump, jump skip, karaoke, or hold a medicine ball. Adding new challenges to your hill workouts will definitely increase your bounce even more, trust me. Find a hill in your area and get started!

3. Calf Raises On Stairs - Find a flight of stairs and try out this calf raise exercise. I usually do this exercise 2-3 times a week. Start at the bottom of the stairs and do between 10-30 toe raises each step until you reach the top. I admit you will feel the burn with this exercise, but the results will be worth it. Stretch good before and after. Switch your toe position each step from straight in, to toes pointed out, to toes pointed in, to right leg by itself and left leg by itself. In about a week you will feel the difference.