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For athletes in sports like dance, gymnastics, cheer, figure skating, martial arts, and other activities that require significant flexibility, being able to move through a large range of motion can feel like an advantage. And it can be. But when the goal becomes "How far can I stretch?" rather than "How much range can I safely control?", stretching can start to become counterproductive.
When people hear the words plyometrics or plyometric training, they may immediately think of box jumps, jump squats, or intense athletic workouts. But plyometrics are much more than simply jumping.
What Parents Need to Know About Training, Recovery, and Longevity. Dance is more than an extracurricular activity for many young dancers. It can become a significant part of their lives, with hours spent in class, rehearsals, performances, competitions, intensives, and private lessons. As a parent, it can be difficult to know how much is enough.
For many athletes, the idea of taking a day off can feel uncomfortable. Whether you're a dancer, gymnast, cheerleader, figure skater, synchronized swimmer, martial artist, fencer, or another performance athlete, there's often pressure to train harder, practice more, and push through fatigue.
