Welcome to Drill of the Week, a series on ACTIVEkids.com that explains individual and team drills for parents and coaches to help kids improve at the sports they love.
Brought to you by CoachUp.com., this week, we’re not so much focusing on a specific drill, but a handy stretch that athletes of any sport will find useful. In this edition, we’re talking to Joanna Murphy, a Boston-based runner and Track and Field expert, as she explains the benefits of the Leg Swing.
Many athletes and coaches rely too heavily on static stretching, but dynamically warming up and getting your body used to the ranges of motion you’re about to use during exercise can be crucial. As Coach Murphy explains, the leg swing helps shake the cobwebs off your muscles and ligaments before going straight into high-intensity action.
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To execute, hold onto something -- whether that’s a fence, a tree, or a friend -- as this ensures that your body can effectively use the momentum of the leg swing to your advantage. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you’re playing football, soccer, or running track, every athlete should consider doing a few minutes of leg swings before any exercise.
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If you want your body to work at 100 percent during the game’s most crucial moments, be sure to take the time before that first whistle even blows to set yourself up for success.
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