So I met with my bro's trainer and came up with a good new workout

[ken]

* A football/rugby player changing directions at full speed, off one leg, while under the influence of extrinsic force.
* A down hill skier negotiating corners as they descend from flight at over 100 km per hour to land on one ski.
* A wind surfer working to control his sailboard in inclement seas with 50 kph winds buffeting the sail.
* A hockey player bouncing off body and board while contacting the ice with a mere 1/8 inch of steel.

I'll agree that a skier, wind surfer, and hockey player may have use for unstable surfaces, because their activity is done on real or virtual unstable surfaces. I'm not sure if the OP does those activities. I don't.

What I do do is play rugby and occasionally football. A much better use of my time is actually changing directions at full speed, off one leg, while under the influence of extrinsic force, rather than trying to emulate that incredibly complex set of forces with an unstable surface. For the majority of people who's sport is played on flat ground, this is the best approach.

Hockey players aren't usually that far away from ice. They shouldn't have any trouble just skating to improve their skating.

Wind surfers and skiers don't always have the opportunity to practice, so they could probably benefit from unstable surface training.

 

[interman]

Swiss balls and smith machines are for douche bags. If you want stabilization try overhead squats and front squats.

 

[James Bond]

Originally Posted by interman

Swiss balls and smith machines are for douche bags. If you want stabilization try overhead squats and front squats.

Well said

 

[drizzt3117]

It seems like for something like football, plyo or exercises with rubber bands seem like the new trend for increasing performance. We never used any of that and primarily focused on pretty normal compound exercises but I also didn't play a skill position where explosiveness was as important.