Ladder Hopscotch

Alternate two-foot and split-foot landings down the ladder. Combines a lateral straddle with a narrow landing, so the hips must widen and gather repeatedly at speed.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Agility ladder
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Calves · Adductors
ALSO WORKS
Gluteus Medius · Quads · Feet & Arch · Hip Flexors
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand at the end of the ladder with both feet together on the forefeet.
  2. 02Hop forward and land with both feet inside the first box.
  3. 03Hop forward again and land straddling the second box, one foot outside each rail.
  4. 04Continue alternating in and straddled all the way down the ladder without pausing.
  5. 05Accelerate out of the last box for five metres, then walk back and repeat 4 to 6 times.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01In, straddle, in, straddle.
  2. 02Land soft on the forefeet.
  3. 03Keep the rhythm even, do not rush the wide landings.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Landing heel-first on the straddle — the wide landing is the one with the most load and it needs the forefoot.
  2. 02Letting the knees fall inward on the narrow landings — repeated at speed, that is a lot of unwanted medial knee load.
  3. 03Straddling wider than the ladder needs — extra width slows the gather and adds nothing.

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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