September 19, 2025

Joel Smith on the Keys to Unlocking an Elite Vertical Jump

1 hour 9 minutes

Joel Smith always wanted to jump higher.

Whether it was touching beams in his middle school, trying to dunk after that, or simply become the best jumper he could in college and beyond, Joel’s journey shows a lifetime of dedication and passion to jumping as a whole

Today, Joel is the founder of Just Fly Sports and trains athletes and clients in partnership with Evolutionary Fitness in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He also hosts the Just Fly Performance Podcast, has authored several books on athletic performance, and trains numerous clients in the in-person and online space.

And today, Joel and I are going to take a deep dive into vertical jump training!

Quotable Quotes:

I think it’s so powerful to just go do the different jumps and gamify them and make it a fun dynamic environment.

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I just try to make (jumping) fun and rhythmic and let them explore all the different types.

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My goal is for the whole practice to be a flow state where it’s just all genuinely enjoyable.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

Joel’s background and his early fascination with jumping.

How gamifying jump training can make learning more enjoyable and effective for young athletes.

Using differential learning to let athletes explore various techniques and find what works best for them.

How understanding the biomechanics of jumping can help coaches tailor their training methods.

The power of strength training, and why it should be used to complement jump training – not hinder it.

Joel’s experiences in coaching youth sports, and what it’s taught him about movement and athleticism.

Why the heels are such a critical piece of the vertical jump puzzle.

A thorough breakdown of the differences between 1- and 2-leg jumps.

The biggest mistakes athletes make in both types of jumps.

Why the best jumpers often have a broad and diverse athletic background!

Connect with Joel:

Instagram

Podcast

Website

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Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

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The post Joel Smith on the Keys to Unlocking an Elite Vertical Jump appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

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By Mike Robertson

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