Is balance an important part of your sport?
Sure balance is essential for yoga and gymnastics, but most athletes don’t consider balance part of their athletic training.
However, think about this – when your balance improves so too does your coordination.
Coordination is integral to everyday movements and it is essential for sports performance.
Test Your Balance Right Now
Stand on one foot and focus your eyes on a point ahead of you.
Now close your eyes.
How’d you do?
Did you fall over?
Switch feet and try it on the other side.
If you wobbled or fell over then chances are your balance could use some improvement.
First, let’s take a look at why balance is important to athletic performance.
Balance Is About More Than Not Falling Down It’s about your body’s ability to interpret and use information about your position in space.
It’s called proprioception.
Every time your body moves you receive environmental feedback that includes cues from your muscles, from your inner ear and from your eyes that help you activate and deactivate muscles in response.
It happens when you stand up from a sitting position, jump for a layup, block a defender or dive into a pool.
Every move you make, whether you’re actively engaging in a sport or simply moving our body from one point to another, requires balance.
So How Do You Train for Balance?
The key to training and improving your balance isn’t what you think.
Sure, you can create a balance specific training program using balls, balance boards and other devices.
However, because strength, agility, flexibility, endurance and balance are all intimately linked and are all part of athletic ability, it’s important to participate in a comprehensive program.
Consider Sports Enhancement Training
Sports Enhancement Training is training that is designed to help you succeed at your sport and to take your skills and abilities to the next level.
It’s designed to help you with your specific sport.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you are in your season, how competitive you are or what your sport is, Sports Enhancement Training is for everyone.
It takes a comprehensive approach to training.
A Sports Enhancement Training program includes:
Agility
Speed
Endurance
Balance
Flexibility
Strength
Cardio
And even nutrition and mindset.
If you’re interested in taking your sport to the next level and want to improve on all levels, including your balance, visit our Downers Grove Athlete Training Program.
Learn more about what Sports Enhancement Training can do for you.
To your best season yet
Jim and The Core1 Crew