A vertical jump is a leap or jump an athlete takes from a stationary position; it is an explosive movement that can be improved to help sports performance. Several sports have specific instances when vertical jumps are critical to that particular sport, notably in basketball.
Basketball
Basketball is the most well known and popular sport that extensively uses a vertical jump. Multiple players make vertical jumps on nearly every play of a basketball game. Jump balls, rebounds, jump shots and even shot block attempts all require basketball players to use vertical jumps. That means that often vertical jumping is a part of offense, defense, rebounding and even the jump ball to gain possession. Those activities encompass nearly every part of a basketball game.
Volleyball
Volleyball is another sport that uses a vertical jump on virtually every play of the game. Vertical jumps are used in volleyball when hitting or attempting to spike the ball, which is an offensive play. In addition, many players use a vertical leap again on offense for their jump serves. Defensively, vertical jumps are used to block hitting attempts. Serves, hitting and blocking take place on just about every volleyball play and most happen multiple times after each serve.
Football
Vertical jumps in football are not as obvious, but they are quite frequent. Offensively, football players use vertical jumps to leap in attempts to catch passes, and less frequently the jumps are used to try and leap over an opposing tackler. Defensively players use a vertical leap most often when they attempt to intercept or knock down a pass. Additionally, verticals are used in football to leap over blockers and to jump to try to deflect a quarterback's throw before it gets downfield.
Other Sports
The vertical jump is used in other sports less frequently. Soccer players use a vertical jump when attempting to head the ball, and goalies use it to stop or deflect a shot. Tennis players turn to a vertical leap to catch a high bounce, while baseball players will use a vertical to catch a high throw or batted ball over their heads. In lesser known sports like lacrosse and water polo, verticals are used on offense and defense to catch high balls.
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