Balance Training

So I was going to write this thing on balance training, but then I watched this video of these guys playing on a slackline and it made me feel inadequate. I gotta get a slackline kit for me and the girls; it looks like a blast.

Anyway, on to what I was originally going to write... I had a very good Ultimate season this year, and one of the things I noticed was that I converted many more "accidental plays" than in recent years. For example, after bobbling the disc I'd make the catch anyway. Or someone would throw me an unexpected pass (or in an unexpected manner) and I'd have to catch it reflexively. Stuff like that. There are lots of things I improved this year that could contribute to making more of those plays: increased focus, better fitness, etc. But, for no empirical reason whatsoever, I like to attribute it to balance training. My warm-up for my daily stretching routine included about five minutes of balance work. Each day I'd mess around with some combination of the following:

• Balance on one foot...
  • ...while slowly moving your head from side-to-side.
  • ...while slowly moving your head in random circles.
  • ...shake your head vigorously, and then recover your balance.
  • ...with your eyes closed.
  • ...standing on your toes rather than flat-footed
  • ...standing on a 2x4.
• Walk a 2x4...
  • ...frontwards and backwards.
  • ...turning 180 degrees each time you get to the end.
  • ...and crouch to pick up implements stacked at the end, bring them back to the other end, and crouch to replace them.
  • ...with various combinations of eyes closed and head movements.
• Stand on a biofoam roller for time (a pool noodle is a much cheaper option, but it crushes, breaks, and generally doesn't behave in a very log-like manner - it's still harder to walk than a 2x4 though).

You get the idea. I have no idea how much this helped my game, but as you're doing these exercises you can feel all these little proprioceptive firings that you just don't work otherwise. I believe it made a difference, which is enough for me (heck, maybe it was the believing itself that made the difference).

There are all kinds of workplace recommendations for five-minute breaks every hour or so. Might as well use that time for something fun, and imagine the looks you'll get when you drag a 2x4 to the office.