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Quickness is reacting to a stimulus rapidly and putting your body into productive motion immediately. This attribute of great sports players relies heavily on both the nerves and the muscles in concert to get the job done. Quickness can be learned with the right training program and a little hard work.
Quality of Work
For quickness drills to do any good, they must be done correctly. Of course, this is true for any exercise, but it is particularly important for quickness training. That is because you are teaching your nerves to fire in a certain way at lightening fast speed. If you use the wrong form, your muscles will react in that wrong way whenever a similar situation arises.
Since quality is so important, it is a good idea to practice quickness exercises immediately after the warm-up of a workout. You will be fresh and in complete control of your responses, more than at any time during your workout. Doing too many quickness drills would be counterproductive, though. Only work as long as you can maintain that excellent form.
Agility and Reaction
Agility is being able to move at varying speeds, changing direction and speed rapidly. Quickness combines that ability with a fast reaction time. Not only will you be moving nimbly across the field of play, but you will be doing it in response to what is happening in the game or event.
Because quickness combines agility and reaction, some of the agility drills can be used, especially if there is an element of surprise in them. For example, chasing a partner is good for agility, but it is also good for quickness. The partner runs ahead of you at varying speeds and directions, and determines your movements. At no time do you know what is coming up ahead. You must respond quickly to the movements of the runner you are following.
Using Muscle Groups
For maximum effect, quickness in sports will use as many muscle groups as are needed to perform the movement. It is one thing to have a quick, involuntary reaction like happens when the doctor taps his mallet on your knee. It is much more effective when adequate muscle power is brought into play at the instant command of the nervous system.
Exercises that encourage the development of a larger number of muscle units will improve this type of quickness. Isometrics are often used in quickness programs. It does not seem logical at first, because isometric exercises are done slowly and involve little movement. However, the resistance of the weight on the stabilized muscle encourages more of the muscle units to respond and develop over time. When other aspects of quickness are trained, these extra muscle units will be ready to move into action.
You do not have to be born a quick athlete. Given the right training and dedication, you can teach your nerves and muscles to respond rapidly and correctly. You will improve almost any kind of sports performance when you increase your quickness.
Quality of Work
For quickness drills to do any good, they must be done correctly. Of course, this is true for any exercise, but it is particularly important for quickness training. That is because you are teaching your nerves to fire in a certain way at lightening fast speed. If you use the wrong form, your muscles will react in that wrong way whenever a similar situation arises.
Since quality is so important, it is a good idea to practice quickness exercises immediately after the warm-up of a workout. You will be fresh and in complete control of your responses, more than at any time during your workout. Doing too many quickness drills would be counterproductive, though. Only work as long as you can maintain that excellent form.
Agility and Reaction
Agility is being able to move at varying speeds, changing direction and speed rapidly. Quickness combines that ability with a fast reaction time. Not only will you be moving nimbly across the field of play, but you will be doing it in response to what is happening in the game or event.
Because quickness combines agility and reaction, some of the agility drills can be used, especially if there is an element of surprise in them. For example, chasing a partner is good for agility, but it is also good for quickness. The partner runs ahead of you at varying speeds and directions, and determines your movements. At no time do you know what is coming up ahead. You must respond quickly to the movements of the runner you are following.
Using Muscle Groups
For maximum effect, quickness in sports will use as many muscle groups as are needed to perform the movement. It is one thing to have a quick, involuntary reaction like happens when the doctor taps his mallet on your knee. It is much more effective when adequate muscle power is brought into play at the instant command of the nervous system.
Exercises that encourage the development of a larger number of muscle units will improve this type of quickness. Isometrics are often used in quickness programs. It does not seem logical at first, because isometric exercises are done slowly and involve little movement. However, the resistance of the weight on the stabilized muscle encourages more of the muscle units to respond and develop over time. When other aspects of quickness are trained, these extra muscle units will be ready to move into action.
You do not have to be born a quick athlete. Given the right training and dedication, you can teach your nerves and muscles to respond rapidly and correctly. You will improve almost any kind of sports performance when you increase your quickness.