T
ASK: TEST YOUR BALANCE:
Pair up and pla
game ag
y the f
ainst your par
ollo
wing
Balance is a ‘SKILL’ related component of fitness. Visit
need a stopwatc
tner
. Y
ou’ll
www.topendsports.com/testing/balance.htm and complete
and a pen eac
h, a piece of paper
h. Flip a coin and
the 5 different balance tests. Comment on what ‘type’ of
decide who’s going f
balance these tests measure. Design a fitness test to
your stopwatc
irst. S
tar
h and write do
t
measure other types of balance. Think about how you can
spor
ts specif
ic static balance on
wn a
make these tests RELIABLE.
your paper
, do this as q
possible and press stop once
uic
kly as
you’v
e f
inish writing. Then your
Your results:
par
tner does the same. Y
not allo
w
ou are
ed to duplicate an Flamingo balance
answ
er, giv
e an incor
exam
ple or write an
rect
Stalk stand test
after your stopwatc
y answ
ers
30seconds! The person lef
h reads
standing at the end with a longt
Beam Walk
list wins. R
epeat the g
er
Balance beam
dynamic balance.
ame f
or
Standing Balance
Balancing exercises
Have a look at the following balance training activities from Keith Littlewood of www.peakfitnessgroup.co.uk
designed specifically for Snowboarding. Use these activities and others to create a circuit training programme
for a sport that requires good balance.
Snowboarding requires a number of fitness
components. Try these three 'wake up' exercises
designed to destabilise the body in an attempt to fire up
those sleepy core muscles.
The four The
One for
point kneeling
experts – The
stance.
Standing
balance.
Balance
Remember that Remember that
This exercise is
with each exercise you are trying the less points of contact that
NOT a warm up exercise and
to maintain a neutral spine or you have with an object the
should not be done unless
imagine a pole in contact with more stability you require.
under the guidance of
the head upper back and lower Move the ball around to
someone skilled in strength
back. manipulate the position and
and conditioning. It is a sport
test your body's ability to
specific stability and strength
stabilise.
exercise that should only be
done after an appropriate level
REMEMBER: If you haven't tried these balance ball
of base conditioning. These
exercises before work in a safe place and get someone to
relate directly to board
assist you to avoid injury!
specific techniques.
20 SPORT IQ 14-16 : JANUARY 2009
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