In Episode 81 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with Coach Aidan for a conversation about **what actually makes an athlete jump higher — and how we train it.**
We break down the qualities that influence vertical jump performance, including eccentric strength, braking ability, approach mechanics, force production, and the ability to rapidly transition from absorbing force to producing it.
We also get into:
• What force plate data can tell us about jump performance
• Why eccentric strength matters for jump athletes
• Submaximal vs. maximal vs. supramaximal eccentric training
• Olympic lifts vs. loaded jumps for developing power
• Why catching Olympic lifts can be valuable for athletes
• Bilateral vs. unilateral strength training
• Giving athletes more autonomy in their programs
• What we learned from using velocity-based training throughout the summer
• How VBT can help athletes better understand effort, load, and intent
And because it's an episode with Matrixx and Aidan, things inevitably get off track — including terrible excuses for missing workouts, which IPC athlete would survive a zombie apocalypse, and what IPC would become if we had to shut down the gym and start an entirely different business.
**If you're a coach, athlete, or anyone interested in improving jump performance and understanding the "why" behind training, this episode is for you.**
Special thanks to our sponsor, **Coachology**, an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches extend their expertise beyond in-person sessions through video analysis, personalized feedback, and ongoing athlete guidance.
www.coachology.ai
Matrixx FerreiraHostAidanGuest
