Agility Training, 5 reasons you should be doing it

Remember when you were a kid playing hopscotch on the driveway or schoolyard? Or playing tag? Or just running around in circles for the fun of it? Or maybe you challenged each other to go run to a tree and raced back? Weren’t those fun? But also a great workout right? If you haven’t put agility training in your workout program then your program is lacking in a very important part of fitness. So grab an agility ladder or cones and get that fire back in your workout. Not convinced? Check out my five reasons you need to do agility training… besides “because I said so”!

Disclosure: Because it’s always my policy to make you aware… the produce featured in this post was given to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. Also links contained in this post may be affiliate links.

Get Lean Legs

If you look at all the professional sports athletes they all have GREAT lean legs. Football (or soccer as you call it here in the US) and basketball players have fantastic lean legs. It’s not from just running up and down a football pitch it’s from the HIIT sprints, and agility drills. Agility training uses more muscles than steady state cardio (running for example). So for getting those lean legs, get your agility ladder out! I’ve been using this agility ladder by Ohuhu. but if you don’t have a ladder, then get some chalk! Make your own temporary ladder on the floor. 

Burn more calories

Due to the nature of agility training, it cannot be sustained for long periods of time making it high intensity interval training [HIIT]. If you’ve seen the soccer players doing their ladder drill you’ll know they go all out for the drill then leisurely walk back for their recovery (usually while the next player does their drill). Due to the physiological effects of HIIT not only does this mean you increase your calorie burn during the workout, but afterwards too as your metabolism stays elevated post workout! 

Assists in Injury Prevention

Say what? Yes it’s true. How many times have you seen people out of action from events due to a rolled ankle? That could be prevented with agility training. When agility training is a part of your program you are better able to handle fatigue. Our reaction times decrease, our bodies are more aware of placement for injury prevention, plus agility training creates balance and control of our body as it moves at speed.

Increase Athletic Performance

Whether you are a runner, basketball player or high jumper, agility training should be a part of your fitness program.  Sports in general require footwork drills to not only prepare the body for movement of the game but to decrease reaction time and fire up the fast twitch muscle fibres. If you or your kids play sports agility drills should be included in your training. 

Agility Training is FUN!

If the first four reasons aren’t good enough, then how about because it’s fun! You remember playing games in the schoolyard right? Playing in teams, trying to beat the other team on your relay races etc. Well with agility training you can bring back that competitive element. If working in pairs or teams isn’t your thing, then work against yourself or a virtual partner. Time yourself for your agility training drills and aim to beat your time. 

 

Question?

Have you used an agility ladder? Would you be interested in an agility ladder workout?