If you didn\’t already know, jumping and landing with varying ground contact times are a staple in the majority of our youth athlete programs. Fast ground contact times (<0.2secs) fall into the category of a true plyometric and therefore a fast stretch-shortening cycle response, whereas jumps with slower contact times (>0.25 secs) are classed as explosive/ballistic activities and have a slower SSC response. Both are key areas to develop for any athlete looking to enhance speed/power/rate of force development to their game. However, any form of \’jump\’ training should always start with the basic landing/force absorption position before advancements are made. If you\’re a young athlete that can\’t demonstrate the above position on demand, with low complexity then advancements simply cannot be made. Teaching a young athlete the ability to accept force correctly is hugely important for everything that underpins sport and how they will develop long term athletically, an excellent set of brakes will allow the athlete to excel in the game-defining moments, but also open a huge door to form a movement perspective for their all-important LTAD journey.
