Plyometrics: Three Exercises Even Beginners Can Try

Plyometrics are exercises that involve short, intense bursts of activity that target muscle fibers in the lower body. These fibers help generate power to increase speed and jumping height. Top athletes use plyometrics to boost strength, power, and agility.

These are three beginner-level exercises to jump-start your plyometric training. 

Side jumps

Stand tall with your feet together. Shift your weight onto your right foot and leap as far as possible to your left, landing with your left foot followed by your right one. Repeat, hopping to your right. That’s one rep.

• You can hold your arms in front of you or let them swing naturally.
• Try not to hunch or round your shoulders forward as you jump.
• To make this exercise easier, hop a shorter distance to the side and stay closer to the floor.

Do five to fifteen reps to complete one set. Do one to three sets, resting between each set.

Jump Rope

Jumping rope is an effective plyometric exercise because it emphasizes short, quick ground contact time. It also measures coordination and repeated jump height as you clear the rope.

• Begin with two minutes of jumping rope, then increase the time or add extra sets.
• Break it up into ten to 30 second segments if two minutes is too difficult.
• If your feet get tangled, pause until you regain your balance and then continue.

An easier option is to go through the motions of jumping rope but without the rope.

Forward Hops

Stand tall with your feet together. Bend your knees and jump forward one to two feet. Turn your body around and jump back to the starting position to complete one rep.

• Let your arms swing naturally during the hop.
• To make this exercise easier, hop a shorter distance and stay closer to the floor.
• If you want more of a challenge, hop farther and higher. As this becomes easier to do, try hopping over small hurdles. Begin with something like a stick and then increase the height, such as with books of various thicknesses.

Do five to ten hops to complete one set. Do one to three sets, resting between each set.

Because even the beginner plyometrics in this article can be challenging, if you have any joint issues, or any trouble with balance, check with a physical therapist before doing these exercises.

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