All forms of movement begin at the center of the body
called the core. All athletes should first develop adequate core strength
before beginning any other forms of exercise. A strong core allows for
functional strength, balance and efficient movement throughout the entire body. Core
exercises are designed to strengthen the area from the low back-pelvis-hip
(lumbo-pelvic-hip), trunk (thoracic spine), and neck (cervical spine). A
strong core also helps athletes train with heavier loads which may help increase
performance gains throughout the body.
SECTION
1:
Physioball Exercises
Ball
Abdominal Crunch
Place
physioball on center of the training mat toward the
rear, grasp hand grips with cords positioned behind
user as shown, lie on ball and place feet flat on mat
(you may place feet on the floor if the platform is
too small). Holding stomach tight, perform a crunch,
hold at least 1-2 seconds, repeat.
Ball
Rotation Crunch
Place
physioball on center of the training mat toward the rear, grasp
hand grips with cords positioned behind and slightly wider than
shoulders as shown, lie on ball and place feet on mat (you may
place feet on floor if the platform is too small). Holding stomach
tight, perform a crunch and rotate to one side, hold 1-2 seconds,
then repeat opposite side.
Ball
Long Lever Crunch
Place
physioball on center of the training mat toward the rear, grasp
hand grips with cords positioned behind user as shown, lie on ball
and place feet flat on mat (you may place feet on the floor if
the platform is too small). Holding stomach tight, extend arms
overhead, perform a crunch while keeping arms overhead, hold 1-2
seconds, then repeat.
Ball
Side Sit Up
Place
physioball on center of the training mat, grasp hand grip with
cord positioned behind user as shown, position a hip on physioball
while placing legs apart on the floor for support. Holding stomach
tight, lift trunk toward ceiling, hold 1-2 seconds, then repeat.
Ball
Russian Twist
Place
physioball on center of the training mat, grasp hand grips with
cords positioned beside user as shown, lie on ball and place feet
flat on mat (you may place feet on the floor if the platform is
too small). Holding stomach tight, rotate torso to one side, hold
1-2 seconds, repeat. Then perform exercise for other side.
Ball
Long Lever Rotation Crunch
Place
physioball on center of the training mat, grasp hand grips with
cords positioned as shown, lie on ball and place feet flat on mat
(you may place feet on floor if the platform is too small). Holding
stomach tight, extend arm overhead to one side then crunch up and
rotate to other side, hold 1-2 seconds, repeat other side.
Ball
Pullover Crunch
Place
physioball on center of the training mat toward the rear, grasp
hand grips with cords positioned behind user as shown, lie on ball
and place feet flat on mat (you may place feet on the floor if
the platform is too small). Holding stomach tight, extend arms
overhead, perform a crunch while pulling arms forward and down,
hold 1-2 seconds, repeat.
Ball
Alternate Punch
Place
physioball on center of the training mat, grasp hand grips with
cords positioned behind user as shown, sit on ball and place feet
flat on mat (you may place feet on the floor if the platform is
too small). Holding stomach tight, raise arms to shoulder level
and perform a punching motion with each arm individually, hold
at the end of the motion 1-2 seconds, then repeat.
Ball
Alternate Punch with Rotation
Place
physioball on center of training mat, grasp hand grips with cords
positioned behind user as shown, sit on ball and place feet flat
on mat (you may place feet on the floor if the platform is too
small). Holding stomach tight, raise arms to shoulder level and
perform a punching motion with each arm individually while rotating
trunk at the end of the punch as shown, hold 1-2 seconds, then
repeat opposite side.
Ball
Back Extension
Place
physioball on center of the training mat, grasp hand grips with
cords positioned in front of user as shown, lie on physioball on
stomach, placing your knees on the mat or the floor for support.
Holding hands in front of shoulders, extend your back as far as
you are comfortable with, hold 1-2 seconds, repeat.
Ball
Prone Alternating Arms
Place physioball
on center of the training mat, grasp hand grips with cords positioned
in front of user as shown, lie on physioball on stomach placing
your feet on the floor for support. Holding your trunk tight, lift
1 arm up toward ceiling, hold 1-2 seconds then lower to starting
position, repeat other arm.
Note: Make sure
you are holding the left cable with the right hand and right cable
with your left hand for this exercise.
SECTION
2: Standing Exercises
Standing
2-Hand Box Draw
Stand
on center of training mat with feet shoulder width apart, grasp
hand grips with cords positioned as shown. Hold stomach tight while
arms are held straight, quickly, but in control, draw an imaginary
box with hands, pausing briefly at each corner, repeat.
Standing
Figure 8 Draw
Stand
on center of training mat with feet shoulder width apart, grasp
hand grips with cords positioned as shown. Hold stomach tight
while arms are held straight, quickly, but in control, draw an
imaginary figure 8 with hands using a smooth motion, repeat.
Standing
Triangle Draw
Stand
on center of training mat with feet shoulder width apart, grasp
hand grips with cords positioned as shown. Hold stomach tight while
arms are held straight, quickly, but in control, draw and imaginary
triangle with hands, pausing briefly at each corner, repeat.
Standing
Diagonal Lift
Stand
on center of training mat with feet shoulder width apart, grasp
hand grip with cord positioned as shown. Hold stomach tight while
arm are held down to one side below waist. Quickly, but in control,
lift arms diagonally up to the other side as shown, hold 1-2 seconds,
repeat.
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