Jump Training for Girls

Female athletes are up to 8 times more likely to experience a major ligament knee injury (ACL tear) compared to male athletes playing the same sport in the same position.

However, there is good news to offset these findings. Research (presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons) indicates that the risk of ACL injuries in women can be cut by 88% with specialized Jump Training Programs such as the one developed by Boston University's Athletic Enhancement Center.

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 trains young women how to control knee movement while strengthening their lower body. Specifically created for female athletes aged 13-25, the program teaches them how to improve their jump and landing techniques, increase their explosiveness and strength, and enhance their overall athletic abilities. This has been a nationally recognized program and each year, in collaboration with Boston University’s Physical Therapy Clinic, the Athletic Enhancement Center modifies the program taking the latest sports medicine research into consideration.

Jump Training for Girls sessions include:

  • Pre- and post- participation testing
  • Postural screening addressing individual lower extremity 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
  • Multi-joint, total-body strengthening using bodyweight, dumbbells, medicine balls, and elastic tubing
  • Integrated core training to strengthen the torso's stabilizing muscles
  • Sport psychology coaching for effective stress management and optimal focus on the playing field