by Meredith Seals

Created on: April 20, 2007

There are several ways to get a good workout with skipping. For clarification, skipping is similar to what children do, as in hop and skip. Jumping rope is something different, although similar. Skipping is a form of technique, and plyometric training.

If you were to attend a track meet, you would notice many athletes skipping around the infield of the track. Part of this is a warm up, but most importantly it is technique. The field event athlete engaged in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, and- sprinters, hurdlers involved with track use skipping alot. It helps them get their timing and steps down, plus loosens the spring board muscles.

A skipping workout may consist of power skips, elongated skipping, or combo skipping- hops and skips. These are plyometric in nature. Plyometrics are plantar flex ballistic type movements. The track examples above are some, but volleyball athletes use all kinds of "ply-o's" like skipping to help in their leaping abilities. Skipping is basically a fun and relaxed way to keep your routine from becoming mundane.

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