Standing partner bobbleheads
Category: Balance
Level: 1
- Maintain neutral head/neck
- Athlete stands in a position-specific stance (e.g. Middle - as though blocking at net)
- Partner nudges the athlete with slight force at the head and shoulders from various directions; as athlete tries to resist movement
- Force applied should be enough to slightly push the athlete out of position before returning to centre
- Progressions include:
- Two legs, eyes open
- Two legs, eyes closed
- Single-leg balance, eyes open
- Single-leg balance, eyes closed
- Allowing head/neck to move out of neutral line with the rest of the body
- Cue "Long, strong neck"
- Cue "Stand up tall"
- Excessive force from the partner nudges that pushes the athlete too far off balance that they cannot recover, or that causes the athlete to take a step away from centre to catch themselves
- Cue "Slight taps"
- Educate partner about the importance of safety for their teammates
- Activates the neck muscles to stabilize the head
- Reinforces safe, neutral neck position
- There is some research to suggest that neck strength could be associated with reduced concussion risk
- Challenges the vestibular system (information about the body's positioning in space, contributing to balance and coordination)
- Develops ankle stability
- Develops knee stability (single leg variations)