Slideboard conditioning is pretty standard in the sport of hockey but relatively rare in other sports, though I’d argue it shouldn’t be. We use it with Volleyball, weekly, all off-season.
The slideboard offers a handful of benefits, like;
- Its standing. Volleyball is played standing, not sitting on something like a bike.
- Its performed it what looks like the general “athletic” position, with the knees bent and the hips flexed, a position you’ll a lot in volleyball.
- It gets athletes moving in the frontal (lateral) plane. The sport of volleyball requires to move laterally in an explosive manner. More frontal plane is a good thing.
- It works both the abductors and adductors in a functional manner. Progressive slideboard conditioning might go a long way in reducing groin injuries typically seen in pre-season camps.
- An athletes feet never leave the ground. In sports like volleyball that require large amounts of jumping/landing, being able to limit the amount of pounding placed on the joints of the lower body and lower back is always a good thing.
- Its not easy.
By the way, if you are looking for a done for you off-season volleyball strength and conditioning program, I’ve got you covered! My Ultimate Off-Season Volleyball Training Program is available!
You can grab that HERE!