agility cones, agility ladders, Circuit Training, Equipment, fitness equipment, fitness trainer, football training, speed hurdles, Speed Training, Team Fitness, team training - June 11, 2014

How to Increase Your Reactions

Reaction is all about your body’s ability to respond both quickly and effectively to changes in the world around it. And increasing your reaction means that you’re able to take action right when you notice that change, allowing you to stay one step ahead of your competitor by knowing how to respond to their actions almost immediately.

Although sports often require a quick reaction, so does life in general. For instance, if your little one darts out into the road, you want to be able to respond quickly and appropriately to pull them back and protect them from danger.

So, how do you increase your reactions? Here are three options to consider:

Option #1 – Ball Games

When you play a sport that involves a ball being hurled at you at top speeds, you’re going to increase your reaction time (or you’re going to get hurt). If you’re training solo, tennis and racquetball may be the way to go, but if you have a group of people, you could also engage in a game of baseball or football to hone your reaction response.

Option #2 – Reaction Ball

A reaction ball is a ball that doesn’t really look like a ball at all. In fact, it is more like a group of balls that are molded together as if they got too close to a fire and all melted into one. The great thing about using a reaction ball is that when you bounce it, you never know which way it is going to go. This allows you to work on your reaction and learn to respond quickly.

Option #3 – Footwork Training

To increase the reaction of your lower body, footwork training is the best option. You have a couple of different choices in this area, like using an agility ladder or setting up cones and maneuvering around them, but anything that requires you to take quick action with your feet will increase your reaction tremendously.

Incorporate all three of these options into your training program and you’ll increase your reaction, making you a true competitor that is going to be tough to reckon with!