Plyometrics for Football Players

Many football players still wonder if plyometrics training can help improve their athletic performance. Indeed, using plyometrics for football training programs can help athletes in developing their different skills and abilities. However, most athletes carry the misconception of scheduling specific workout times that solely focus on plyometric training. An athlete does not have to undergo plyometric training for football for more than an hour each day. The benefits of plyometrics football exercises can be best attained if football plyometric drills are incorporated into the main training program – right after warm up exercises and right before the main body of the training routine.

Plyometric exercises for football should focus on a full and smooth series of motion that is greater than the eccentric overload. Plyometric football exercises should also use the pre-stretch phase of the muscles to bring about coordination, mechanical efficiency, and rapid movement. Like many other types of training, plyometric football exercises should be performed in intervals over the whole course of the season, with varying volumes and intensities. Generally, football players have low to moderate volumes of plyometric exercises, with low to moderate intensities.

You can start each season with an introduction to plyometric training using simple plyometric workouts for football. As you notice that you have gradually grown accustomed to  football plyometric drills, you can slowly increase the volume and intensity of your exercises. Once you have learned basic rhythm skills, you can progress to power exercises. Remember that you will only need a small number of power drills and rhythm exercises.

Once the competition phase of the football season has begun, plyometric drills for football should start to focus on rhythm and speed development. As the season progresses to the peak of the competition phase, plyometric training for football can be reduced to one light session each week. A couple of weeks to a week before the playoffs begin, strenuous plyometric exercises for football can be stopped, although plyometric drills for football can still be incorporated into the whole exercise routine, right after warming up.

There are different kinds of plyometric drills for football. Some of the most common are easy skipping, high skipping, skipping kicks, butt kicks, and high knees. You might find it funny for grownups to do the aforementioned drills but exercises like skipping and kicking can help much in developing rhythm skills. Remember to perform these exercises properly to get the most benefits out of plyometrics for football.