Like you I’m sure I have a job, so as I have said before, the amount of time I spend on training is very limited, so I want to make the most out of what time I have available. So first off we need to find out what is the most effective form of training in your quest for jumping higher ; do some research! And remember that the most effective does not mean the most expensive, or necessary the hardest, it may not be either.
At the moment one popular training methods is UST (Unstable Surface Training) the Bosu balls, they can be found in most gyms, they are hard to use. It can take quite a while to master them. But do they improve your vertical jumping ? Don’t get me wrong they have there place, for kids wanting to train , and for those who are not in a competitive sport, but want the exercise, esp those wanting to get their ankles and knees moving properly.
But for the serious athlete UST Unstable surface training WILL train your body to use slower activation patterns, and undermine the development of power in your training program. There are well-documented studies have been done showing that these neat and difficult exercises actually train your muscles to improperly activate and lower your power output in jumping higher
I read some time ago that what people thought was correct even 100 years ago we now know to be wrong. Take the idea that the earth is flat, at the time every one thought it to be fact now we know that it is a sphere. Now although this is an extreme example, a healthy scepticism can help us choose between effective and less-effective training techniques, other things in life to. As well as give us a greater understanding of what we are doing. But above all have a great time training!
