Jumping Styles

If there is one thing I’ve learned from working with athletes from various backgrounds, it’s they all are individually different. These individual differences determine the programing and coaching style that works best for them. No two athletes are alike. One movement or training regime might work well for one individual, where that same exercise or program might be the complete opposite of what the other individual needs.
 
“You can’t fit a square peg in a round whole”. Determine the athlete’s jumping style and train them accordingly.
 
Strength Jumper (Force Dominant)
A strength dominant jumper is naturally stronger, has more muscle mass and thicker joints. The athlete will tend to have a more forceful take off with less “spring” when they jump. They will require more of a knee bend and will spend longer time on the ground. This type of athlete will benefit complementing their strength work with more plyometric and complex/contrast methods.
 
Speed Jumper (Velocity Dominant)
The elastic style jumper will naturally have longer leverages (bones & tendons) and smaller joints. This athlete will have more of an effortless take off with a lot of “spring” when they jump. They will take full advantage of the stretch shortening cycle and will spend less time on the ground. This type of athlete will benefit from complementing their plyometric drills with absolute strength and strength-speed movements. 

Understanding that the cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach will be detrimental to an athlete's short term and long term development. Individualization and specificity are two of the major principles that our training system is built upon.