A range of athletes benefit from an increase in vertical leap. These include basketballers, footballers, high jumpers and long jumpers, just to name a few.

Before you start any workout it is critical that you warm up your body sufficiently to avoid any injury. The best way to do this is to perform a number of stretches or jogging on the spot.

Jump Rope - Jump rope exercises are a great way to condition the body and tone the legs.

Stair Running - Simply running up and down stairs can be a very effective way to get the heart rate up while working hard on the legs. You can also try these as a warm up exercise.

Deep Knee Bend Exercises - These exercises involve bending your knees very slowly while ensuring that your back is completely straight at the same time.

Simply crouch down very slowly as low as you can go and then come up again. Do this for 10-15 times.

Toe Raises - Performing toe raises will really build up your calf muscles. It is a very easy exercise to perform. All that is really required is to stand on your toes, one at a time or simultaneously with both legs, and then pull down and repeat the exercise. Best results are achieved if you do this workout slowly.

If you are serious about increasing your jump you need to find the right program that will meet your needs.

The best program for you will be able to be customized to your own individual and athletic needs and circumstances. Vertical jump programs customize their workouts differently. One may concentrate on an individual's weaknesses, while another program will customize its workout through performing repetitious exercise.

The best program will be able to customize your workout precisely according to your needs and not someone else's. It will also be able to individually take into account your weight, your height, your health, your fitness level and ultimately, your vertical jump goal.

It will also offer multiple different vertical jump training levels. The best program will increase your strength through both weight training and plyometrics.