Volleyball plyometrics can help to increase your vertical jump and explosive power around the court. However, they should be performed alongside or following a sport-specific resistance training program.

While plyometrics is a very effective form of power training (and volleyball-specific), there are some important considerations to consider before adopting this form of conditioning into your routine.

Remember firstly that explosive power is a function of both strength and speed of muscular contraction. Volleyball plyometrics exercises will help condition your neuromuscular system to apply a greater level of force in a shorter period of time. However, if you lack basic strength, their effectiveness will be limited.

With plyometric movements, a muscle is loaded and then contracted, in a very fast sequence, using the muscle elasticity, tendons, strength, and all the tissues that are around the muscle. The end results are higher jumping ability, faster and stronger running, and hitting more powerful..

The speed of your muscle contractions are increased to produce an explosion of power, that will put you in the top of your game. You will without question be able to reach your true potential. Your start will be quicker, your jump will be higher, and your overall performance will be more than you thought possible.

Plyometric training exercises are used to strengthen the tissues to train the nerve cells to contract in such a way which creates an explosive movement in as little time as possible. Plyometric movements consist of a very fast lengthening movement of the muscle, then a brief rest, and then a very fast and powerful shortening of the the muscle.

With everything working together in such a way, the force is automatic. But to achieve your goals, you need to understand what is needed by you. Training for any activity takes proper nutrition, mental awareness, desire, dedication, commitment, focus, and hard work. To bring your game to the next level and to play like you only dreamed of, then you have to train using plyometrics.

Your training must include the proper diet. Without the proper nutrition, your chance of injury increases and your muscles wont become stronger.

It’s not your physical training that increases your muscle strength, its your nutritional intake. Nutrition is the most important ingredient involved in any training program. Don’t try to take any short cuts with your diet. Its the correct diet that will bring you to the top of your potential and ability. And it also is what will keep you performing at the top. Train smart, train hard, and use plyometric training exercises as a regular part of your training program, and you will achieve your full potential.

This sample program consists of two volleyball plyometrics sessions per week. This is perfectly adequate to convert strength in sport-specific power and reduces the risk of over-training that can occur with more sessions each week.

Plyometrics (Lower body plyometric drills and Upper body plyometric drills) are usually performed during the mid to late pre-season phase of training. The closed season and early pre-season can be used to develop functional and maximal strength, which is then converted to explosive power.

Because these volleyball plyometrics exercises require maximal effort and a high quality of movement, don’t perform any other training immediately before – such as endurance runs, resistance training or speed training. Of course it goes without saying that a thorough warm-up should be completed first.

The following key points should be remembered :

• always warm up and stretch especially the legs,
• explosive movements are required for optimum results,
• correct foot placement is essential – aim to land with your ankle fixed,
• adequate recovery between reps can not be stressed enough,
• use only your body weight when performing plyometric exercises,
• keep your body balanced by maintaining a high knees up thumbs position,
• avoid damped landings; use sprung floors, dry grass or an athletic track.