What’s wrong with kids these days? Part I: Foot/ankle control The interaction of the foot and the ground is a vital component to athleticism and many athletes have tremendous difficulty feeling/controlling what occurs at the foot/ankle complex during dynamic movement. With this, we should be attacking it from a variety of angles. Any chance we have to draw an athlete’s attention to their positioning is an opportunity to reinforce sound mechanics. Whether it be in the warm-up during movements like dead-bugs, in the weight-room during exercises like step-ups, or in cool-downs during breathing or mobility protocols, we should always be including some instruction around the foot/ankle complex. Additionally, the Rudiment Hop Series has helped to reinforce more mid- to flat-footed ground contacts and cueing athletes during Sprint Drills to not let an individual standing behind them see the bottom of their foot/shoe often elicits the correct mechanics. Lastly, one thing I have yet to try but am considering is targeted exercises for the anterior shin such as band-resisted dorsiflexion or heel-walks. Have you tried this or anything else to help improve control of the foot/ankle complex? Let me know in the comments...