How to Jump Higher

Practice balancing. In order to be able to jump high, you must first be able to balance. Every time you jump and land, your balance is being compromised. A way to increase your balance is by standing on a BOSU. Start out with two feet, then work your way to one as you get more comfortable.

Strengthen the core. The core is not only the driving force behind jumping, but it is also important for full body stabilization. Do exercises that target the upper and lower abdominals, the obliques and the lower back. Some examples of these exercises are Swiss Ball crunches, Swiss Ball back extensions, medicine ball side chops and reverse crunches.

Wear added weight. During your daily activities, wear ankles weights, a weighted vest, a gravity belt, or a combination of all of these items. This will train your body and mind to think that you are still weighted after you have taken them off. The only difference is, the weight won't be there. You'll be lighter and this will enable you to jump higher.

Perform plyometrics. This is a type of training where there is a series of fast muscle contractions followed by explosive movements. Some examples of this would be box jumps, jumping rope, leaping lunges and jump squats. Perform these exercises in sets of 4 to 6 reps as they are very intense.

Do full body integration work. An example of a full body integration exercise is a burpee. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Come into a squat position, place your hands on the floor on the outsides of your feet and kick your legs back behind you. Go right into a pushup, then snap your feet back to the starting point and jump up in the air--from a squat position-- with your arms reaching high into the sky.

Do some flexibility work. Jumping takes a toll on your muscles and connective tissue. Doing flexibility exercises will reduce your chances for injuries and also give you better range of motion. Perform dynamic stretches before training and static stretches afterward. Dynamic stretches are done in motion and static stretches are held in a fixed position.