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Plyometrics Foundation — 25 Minutes

A 25-minute intermediate plyometrics session to build elastic strength, landing control, and power.

Warm-Up

Raise heart rate and prep ankles/hips for jumping mechanics. — Landing prep focus.

Jumping Jack
Jumping Jack30 sec
How to

A full-body cardio move that trains coordination, calves, shoulders, and hips.

  1. Stand tall with feet together and arms at your sides.
  2. Jump your feet out as you raise your arms overhead.
  3. Jump your feet back together as you lower your arms.
  4. Repeat at a steady pace, landing softly each time.
Form cues
  • Stay light on your toes
  • Keep your chest tall
Common mistakes
  • Landing hard with locked knees
  • Letting your arms swing out of control
High Knee
High Knee30 sec
How to

A fast marching or running move that raises each knee to train your legs and raise your heart rate.

  1. Stand tall with feet under your hips and arms at your sides.
  2. Drive one knee up toward hip height as the opposite arm swings forward.
  3. Land softly on the ball of that foot.
  4. Switch quickly to the other knee and keep alternating.
  5. Keep a steady rhythm until the set ends.
Form cues
  • Stay tall through your chest
  • Land light and quick
Common mistakes
  • Leaning back as your knees lift
  • Stomping your feet into the floor
Bodyweight Squat
Bodyweight Squat10x
How to

A bodyweight lower-body move that trains your quads, glutes, and hips.

  1. Stand with feet about shoulder-width apart and toes slightly out.
  2. Brace your core and keep your chest tall.
  3. Bend your knees and hips to lower into a squat.
  4. Push through your feet to stand back up.
Form cues
  • Keep your knees tracking over your toes
  • Keep your chest up
Common mistakes
  • Letting your knees cave in
  • Rounding your back as you lower
Reverse Lunge
Reverse Lunge8x each side
How to

A backward-stepping lunge that trains your quads, glutes, and balance.

  1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart.
  2. Step one foot back and lower until both knees bend.
  3. Push through your front foot to stand back up.
  4. Finish your reps, then switch legs.
Form cues
  • Keep your chest tall.
  • Track your front knee over your toes.
Common mistakes
  • Letting your front knee cave inward.
  • Pushing off the back foot to stand.
2 rounds · 10 sec rest

Circuit A

Stay springy and quiet; reset your stance between reps if needed. — Low to moderate impact.

Ankle Hop
Ankle Hop20 sec
How to

Small, quick hops on both feet that train your calves, ankles, and foot control.

  1. Stand tall with feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent.
  2. Rise onto the balls of your feet.
  3. Hop lightly in place using mostly your ankles.
  4. Land softly on the balls of your feet and repeat.
Form cues
  • Keep hops small and quick.
  • Stay tall through your torso.
Common mistakes
  • Landing hard on your heels.
  • Bending your knees deeply on each hop.
Squat Jump
Squat Jump8x
How to

A bodyweight squat into an explosive jump that trains your legs, glutes, and power.

  1. Stand with feet about shoulder-width apart and arms by your sides.
  2. Push your hips back and bend your knees into a squat.
  3. Drive through your feet and jump straight up.
  4. Land softly with knees bent, then go into the next rep.
Form cues
  • Land quiet and controlled
  • Keep your chest lifted
Common mistakes
  • Letting your knees cave in
  • Landing with stiff legs
Skater Jump
Skater Jump10x both sides
How to

A side-to-side jump that trains your legs, glutes, and lateral power.

  1. Stand tall with knees soft and arms ready.
  2. Jump sideways onto one foot, letting the other leg sweep behind you.
  3. Land softly with your knee bent and chest up.
  4. Push off and jump back to the other side.
  5. Keep alternating sides for the set.
Form cues
  • Land softly on the whole foot
  • Keep your chest up
Common mistakes
  • Letting your knee cave inward
  • Rushing the landing before you are balanced
3 rounds · 15 sec rest
1 min rest

Circuit B

Explode up, land softly. Keep core braced and posture tall. — Higher intent.

Split Squat Jump
Split Squat Jump6x both sides
How to

A jumping split squat that trains your legs and glutes while challenging power and balance.

  1. Stand in a split stance with your front foot flat and back heel lifted.
  2. Bend both knees and lower into a split squat.
  3. Jump straight up, driving through your front foot.
  4. Land softly in the same stance and lower into the next rep.
  5. Finish your reps, then switch legs.
Form cues
  • Keep your chest tall
  • Land with soft knees
Common mistakes
  • Letting your front knee cave inward
  • Landing hard on each jump
Tuck Jump
Tuck Jump6x
How to

A powerful jump where you drive both knees up toward your chest. It trains explosive legs and cardio.

  1. Stand tall with feet hip-width apart and arms at your sides.
  2. Dip into a shallow squat and swing your arms back.
  3. Jump straight up and pull both knees toward your chest.
  4. Land softly on both feet with knees bent.
  5. Reset your stance before the next rep.
Form cues
  • Land quietly
  • Keep your chest up
Common mistakes
  • Letting your knees cave in on landing
  • Landing stiff-legged
Plank
Plank30 sec
How to

A core hold that trains your abs, shoulders, and glutes while you keep a straight body line.

  1. Place your forearms on the floor with elbows under shoulders.
  2. Step both feet back and lift into a straight line from head to heels.
  3. Brace your abs and squeeze your glutes.
  4. Hold the position and breathe steadily.
  5. Lower your knees to the floor to finish.
Form cues
  • Keep your ribs pulled down
  • Push the floor away
Common mistakes
  • Letting your hips sag
  • Lifting your hips too high
2 rounds · 20 sec rest

Cool-Down

Bring the heart rate down and restore calf/quad length.

Calf Stretch
Calf Stretch30 sec each side
How to

A standing calf stretch that targets the back of your lower leg with a steady hold.

  1. Stand facing a wall and place your hands on it.
  2. Step one foot back and keep that heel on the floor.
  3. Bend your front knee until you feel a calf stretch.
  4. Hold and breathe slowly without bouncing.
  5. Finish the hold, then switch legs.
Form cues
  • Keep your back heel down
  • Point both toes forward
Common mistakes
  • Bouncing in the stretch
  • Letting the back heel lift
Standing Quad Stretch
Standing Quad Stretch30 sec each side
How to

A standing thigh stretch that targets the front of your hip and quad on one leg.

  1. Stand tall and hold a wall or chair for balance if needed.
  2. Bend one knee and hold your ankle or foot behind you.
  3. Keep your knees close and gently draw your heel toward your glute.
  4. Hold the stretch and breathe slowly.
  5. Release with control, then switch legs.
Form cues
  • Stand tall through your chest
  • Keep your knees close
Common mistakes
  • Arching your lower back
  • Pulling the knee out to the side
Elastic Energy: Your Tendons Do the Work

Elastic Energy: Your Tendons Do the Work

Ankle hops and squat jumps train the stretch-shortening cycle in your Achilles tendon and quadriceps, teaching muscles to store and release elastic energy explosively. Skater jumps add frontal-plane loading to the hip abductors, closing the gap most plyometric programs miss.

Why Landing Control Is the Real Skill

Why Landing Control Is the Real Skill

Plyometric power is only as safe as your deceleration mechanics. The reverse lunge and bodyweight squat in warm-up prime your glutes and VMO to absorb ground reaction forces before tuck jumps and split squat jumps demand rapid, repeated landings under fatigue.

Building the Plyometric Pyramid Right

Building the Plyometric Pyramid Right

This session follows intensity layering — low-amplitude hops before maximal-effort tuck jumps — matching the specificity principle by progressing from single-plane to multi-plane power. To personalize, track ground contact time on ankle hops: shorter contacts signal improving reactive strength.

Plyometrics Foundation — 25 Minutes | Mighty Nimble | Mighty Nimble