Jump Training for Girls
In response to the knee injury epidemic in female athletes, The Athletic Enhancement Center in conjunction with the BU Physical Therapy Center were the first to usher comprehensive ACL injury prevention training for girls into the Boston-area at the turn of the century. In 2010, the staff took on the challenge to take this programming to the “next level” by making significant improvements on traditional approaches to such training. Through an evidence-based and collaborative coaching approach, the next generation of ACL prevention programming has begun with soccer players in local communities.
The Jump Training Program has been designed for female athletes who want to decrease their risk of injury while improving their athletic ability. Our program begins by teaching young women safe and athletic movement patterns and progresses to coaching dynamic, sport-specific movement in conjunction with on-field decision making. Specifically created for female athletes aged 13-22, this program can run at the Center or be taken to the field for easy, full-team participation.
Jump Training for Girls sessions include:
- Pre- and post- participation testing
- Screening to address athletic and alignment needs
- Ongoing evaluation and instruction of correct and safe jumping/jump-landing techniques
- Instruction on appropriate stretching positions and complementary strength training exercises
- Dynamic warm-ups to stimulate the body’s neuromuscular system, enhance flexibility, improve balance, and prepare the body for training
- Explosive jumping drills (plyometrics) designed to protect the knee from injury
- Agility drills to increase quickness and reaction abilities
- Movement training to develop agility and coordination
- Decision making and neuromuscular training
- Multi-joint, total-body strengthening using bodyweight, dumbbells, medicine balls, and elastic tubing
- Integrated core training to strengthen the torso’s stabilizing muscles
- Periodized programming to avoid performance plateaus and to maximize training gains
- Sport psychology coaching for effective stress management and optimal focus on the playing field
