Posts Tagged ‘speed and agility’

Discover How An Agility Ladder Might Help Enhance Your Speed And Agility Exercises

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Do you even appreciate what an agility ladder is?  I don’t mean one you use next to the building in order to do home repairs. The ladder I am talking about would be the one that strength coaches like me employ for physical performance. The agility ladder seems to be much like a ladder in its design except it is made of plastic as well as a material similar to rope It is made from this stuff so you’re able to put it flush over the ground so as to perform speed agility and quickness workout routines.
The main objective for the agility ladder program is to promote a wide range of assorted foot and movement patterns. These actions develop into second nature, and then the body is in a position to suddenly respond towards the assorted angles necessary. You will develop your quickness through repeating the movements in your training and the agility ladder is really a useful tool in a sound agility program.
The awesome feature concerning performing this type of agility ladder workout drills is that you’ll be able to perform them basically anywhere you have a small smooth open space. Your yard, a park, as well as local high school football playing field all work as terrific areas to put into practice the benefit of these form of work outs. You can increase your footwork and hand and eye control as a result of performing high-knee runs, shuffles, along with bounding workouts through the rungs within the ladder. All of these drills ought to be executed keeping good running techniques and form. They should also be done in an intense fashion to accomplish the full advantage. Agility ladder workouts are terrific and you can pretty much repeat them in any number of ways to perform both foot speed drills and agility ladder work outs. When you have a fairly long driveway or patio and you do not want to pay out the money to purchase a ladder then you could merely create your own with a bit of colored duct tape that you simply locate at your community hardware supply! If you happen to try this method ensure that the ladder is at least 5 yards long.
You’ll find more than twenty separate quickness workouts that are generally used with an agility ladder and all of them help improve fast twitch muscle tissue. The drills range from lateral travel side steps, to front steps having staggered movement. All workouts require swift and explosive actions .These movements are what are behind the growth of your fast twitch muscle fibers.
Even a track participant is going to gain from this type of training. The track competitor will be able to get off the blocks quicker and that translates into fast sprint times. The ideal training for quickness is going to consist of an agility ladder, but additionally some overall speed and agility training, appropriate nutrition and diet, along with good core training to maximize the athlete’s results.
You will get a quick feel as to what real cardiovascular exercise is like when it comes to this sort of exercise! Upgrade your performance right now. Step up your work out to achieve the results you desire.

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In Warm Weather, Children Are In The Hot Seat

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Speed exercises in the summer means high temperatures and your youngsters or teens will be playing and practicing outdoors. Thus, young athletes do not adapt to hot weather like adults. Don’t underestimate the significance of the warning signs for heat illnesses and preventing them. These illnesses consist of any of the following, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps. Whether your child or your team is doing strength training workouts as a coach, or parent,  you want to be aware of the seriousness of heat-related illnesses. In actuality, heat illness can be more dangerous to youngsters.  Heat stroke has an incredibly high death rate for children, 17-70%. The factors associated are the child’s age and the severity of the illness.

Children suffer heat-related illnesses when their bodies can not compensate for the heat and cool itself.  Youngsters are more vulnerable to heat related illnesses because they don’t adapt as fast or as well to heat changes as do adults and they also create additional warmth with activeness. Children are more at risk to heat illness since they can’t adapt as quickly or as well to changes in temperatures. In addition, they produce extra heat with activity. Young athletes perspire less than adults and they do so at a higher body temperature..  Those kids, whom are heavy, have continuing illnesses and take a number of medications are even more susceptible to high heat conditions during practice.

INDICATORS
Heat Cramps – agonizing, involuntary muscle contractions, generally in the gastrocnemius or hamstring tissues (the muscles at the back of the calves and thighs)

Dehydration – fatigue, thirst,  lightheadedness, less-frequent urination,  sloppiness, heightened heart rate and respiration, dry skin,  dry mouth and mucous membranes

Heat Exhaustion – clammy, pale skin, sweating,  tiredness (fatigue), pounding head and or vertigo

Heat Stroke – Loss of consciousness, confusion or hallucinations, headache, agitation, high body temperature, absence of sweaty, deep or shallow breathing, weak pulse rate, seizures|

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Be conscious that temperatures over 80 degrees produce conditions favorable to heat sickness.  It also important to know that excessive humidity reduces your body’s ability to release excess heat by perspiring. In order to prevent this illness acclimate the child to the heat, increase intensity over 10-14 days, no heavy work for the first week Have them work out in cooler parts of the day, as morning or early evening. Ensure youngsters take rest periods. Have youngsters drink fluids before working out. Make sure plenty of water is available during work outs. Whether or not they are thirsty, young athletes should hydrate every 20 min. when practicing. Liquids to keep away from are caffeine and everything carbonated. As far as clothing is concerned, children should wear lightweight and ventilated clothing.

If your teenager or your team is doing speed and agility training as a trainer or parent, you need to be aware of the gravity of heat-related sickness.  Respect the hot temperatures or there could be fatal consequences.

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