Exercise of the Week: The Box

Level: Beginner to Advanced

Goal: Improve footwork and ability to change direction quickly

Equipment: None

This week concludes our series on agility training. Remember, agility is the ability to move quickly and change directions while maintaining control of the body. To be effective on the beach an athlete will need speed, balance, power and co-ordination. Agility training plays an integral role in developing these attributes.

Our drill this week is the Box. This is an excellent drill to warm-up the lower body, improve our footwork and enhance our ability to change directions quickly.

Be sure to perform a thorough warm up (click here) before performing the Box drill.


Start in the back left corner, facing the net, and sprint straight ahead to the net.
Immediately transition to a shuffle across the court to the front right corner.
Transition quickly to a back pedal all the way to the back right corner of the court.
Finish the drill by shuffling across to the back left corner of the court where you started.

Repeat 3-5 times with 45-60 seconds of rest in between repetitions.

Key points - When you shuffle stay low in a defensive position and avoid clicking your heels or crossing your feet. Keep the weight on the balls of your feet and not your heels.

Intermediate and advanced players can increase the intensity of the drill by adding an approach jump after the sprint to the net and a block jump after the first shuffle.

For variety you may also want to try the following pattern.


Incorporate agility drills like the Box into your conditioning routine once or twice per week for best results.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check back next week when we'll start our series on shoulder stabilization for injury prevention.

See you on the beach!

Eric Hand, MA, CSCS

Exercise Physiologist and Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Fast Twitch Fitness

"We're all athletes. Some of us are just farther along in our training."

Pictures from http://stacktv.stack.com/

Rainy Day Workouts

Remember when you were a kid and you would play for hours and hours? We’d play not because it lowered our cholesterol, or blood pressure or because our doctor told us to. We simply did it because it was FUN!!!! I wonder what the magic age is when play becomes “exercise”?

I would venture to say I’m not the only one who plays volleyball because it’s fun and gives me the opportunity to “play” for hours.

Well, how can we keep that fun feeling on those rainy days when we can’t play at the beach and don’t feel like hitting the gym?

Here’s a quick 30 minute workout you can do at home that will keep the fun factor high (and oh yes, it will improve your conditioning too).

Equipment you’ll need

Jump rope
Volleyball or medicine ball for extra resistance
Mix of your favorite songs to keep you movin'

Rainy Day Workout (Circuit #1)

• Knees to Elbows for 30 seconds

• 12 Squats (see proper squatting technique in the Volleyball Conditioning posting)
  
• 20 Jumping jacks
• 10 Pushups
• 25 Crunches
• Jump rope for one minute
• 15 Skaters to each side
  

• 15 Medicine Ball Pops

• 50 Bicycle crunches (similar to crunches but alternating knee to elbow)
  
• Jump rope for one minute
• 8 Lateral lunges in both directions (see proper lunge technique in the Volleyball Conditioning posting)
• 12 Triceps extension with medicine/volleyball (pacefit.com med ball)

• Foot to foot crunches (15 to each side)

• Jump rope for one minute
• 15 Medicine Ball Pops (see above)
  
• 8 Burpees

Phew! Nice job, Now take some well deserved water and a few minutes to stretch.

Hope you enjoyed this workout and I'll see you on the beach when the sun returns!

Eric Hand, MA , CMT
Exercise Physiologist
Fast Twitch Fitness

“We’re all athletes. Some of us are just farther along in our training.”

All the information presented on the FastTwitchFitness Blog is for educational and resource purposes only. It is there to help you make informed decisions about health related fitness issues. It is NOT a substitute for any advice given to you by your physician. Always consult your physician or health care provider before beginning any exercise program. Use of the programs, advice, and information contained in this website is at the sole choice and risk of the reader.
In no way will FastTwitchFitness or any persons associated with FastTwitchFitness be held responsible for any injuries or problems that may occur due to the use of this blog or the advice contained within. FastTwitchFitness will not be held responsible for the conduct of any companies and/or websites recommended within this blog.

Volleyball Conditioning

Beach volleyball is a very dynamic game that requires strength, agility, flexibility and power. If you want your body to be ready to respond for that first dive onto the sand or that first joust at the net, it is crucial that you are properly conditioned.

When you arrive at the beach, before you even touch a ball, I recommend you include a few dynamic warm-up exercises. A dynamic warm-up involves sport specific exercises that involve moving the body through slow and controlled ranges of motion. I know that it can be tempting to just “dive” in and start playing, however, a good warm-up can be completed in as little as five minutes. Think of this time as an investment to both reduce your risk of injury and prepare your body for the explosive demands that will be placed on it as soon as the first ball is served. A dynamic warm-up will also awaken your nervous system and help you focus on the upcoming game.

You should perform these movements to your own ability and do not attempt to match someone else’s strength or range of motion. Find your own edge and gradually work to improve it. This month we’ll focus on developing lower body strength and flexibility. Be sure to start at the appropriate level. If you perform these warm-ups regularly you should see improvement and be able to advance to the next level within a month.

Squat with arm extension (Beginner)

Stand with feet slightly turned out, shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent. Reach arms out to form a flat platform as if you were going to pass or dig a ball. Inhale deeply and slowly bend your knees to squat down. Think about sitting back and placing your weight on your heels. As you squat be sure to keep your chest high, upper and lower back arched and tight, gaze forward, and weight on your heels. Allow your knees to spread outward toward the toes. Be sure your knees do not move past your toes, however, and do not attempt to go deeper than a thighs parallel to the ground position. Complete the movement by exhaling slowly and pressing through your heels to return to a standing position. Repeat 8-12 times.

You should feel this movement in your quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings, not in your knees or lower back. If flexibility is a problem try using a wider stance. When done properly the squat is a safe exercise and critical to developing speed and vertical jump. Injuries occur when athletes are rushed or not focused and forget to adhere to proper form and technique.

Net Duck (Intermediate)

Stand perpendicular to the net, feet 6-12 inches apart, right shoulder next to the net. Reach arms out as if you were going to pass or dig a ball. Inhale deeply and step your right foot to the right as you slowly bend your knees to squat down underneath the net. Think about sitting back and placing your weight on your heels as you squat down. As you squat be sure to keep your chest high, upper and lower back arched and tight, gaze forward, and weight on your heels. As you squat be sure to keep your arms extended, chest high, gaze forward, , upper and lower back arched and weight on your heels. Complete the movement by exhaling and standing up on the other side of the net. Repeat, this time squatting under the net toward your left. As you squat underneath the net visualize getting low to dig a hard driven ball.

Lateral Squat with arm extension (Advanced)


















Stand on the left side line facing the net, feet shoulder width apart. Reach arms out as if you were going to pass or dig a ball. Inhale deeply and step your right foot several feet to the right as you slowly bend your knees and squat down and to your right. As you squat think about sitting back and placing your weight on your heels as you squat down. Be sure to keep your chest high, upper and lower back arched and tight, gaze forward, and weight on your heels. Visualize getting low and digging a hard driven ball as you squat. Complete the movement by exhaling and returning to a standing position. Repeat until you reach the right side line. Repeat by leading with your left foot and squatting to the left side line.

These exercises will help improve your lower body strength as well as the flexibility in your hips, knees, ankles and inner thigh.

Have a blast with these exercises this month and I welcome your questions and comments.

See you on the beach!

Eric Hand, MA , CMT
Exercise Physiologist
Fast Twitch Fitness

“We’re all athletes. Some of us are just farther along in our training.”