Icky Shuffle

The in-in-out-out ladder pattern, travelling sideways down the ladder. Trains lateral foot placement and coordination in the frontal plane, which straight-ahead running never touches.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Agility ladder
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Calves · Gluteus Medius
ALSO WORKS
Quads · Adductors · Hip Flexors · Feet & Arch
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand beside the first box of the ladder, facing down its length, on the balls of the feet.
  2. 02Step the inside foot into box one, then the outside foot into box one.
  3. 03Step the first foot out to the far side of the ladder, then bring the other foot up beside it.
  4. 04Repeat the in-in-out-out sequence moving forward one box at a time down the ladder.
  5. 05Run out of the end for five metres, then walk back and repeat for 4 to 6 passes.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01In, in, out, out.
  2. 02Hips face down the ladder the whole time.
  3. 03Light on the forefeet.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Turning the hips toward each step — you are now running a curve, not shuffling laterally.
  2. 02Speeding up before the pattern is automatic — you will trip the ladder and reinforce nothing.
  3. 03Standing upright with locked knees — there is no athletic position to move out of at the end.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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