Contralateral Movements: Building coordination in young athletes
By: Derrick Campbell
Why contralateral movements matter
Many young athletes struggle with coordination, especially in movements that require cross-body actions. Contralateral movement happens when one side of the body works in opposition to the other, such as when your right leg steps forward while your left arm swings ahead. These patterns are built into the nervous system through neurons and reflexes.
This type of movement is a natural part of walking, running, and almost every athletic skill. For developing athletes, reinforcing contralateral patterns should be a priority in training.
Benefits for developing athletes
Focusing on contralateral movement can create long-term improvements for young athletes. Key benefits include:
- Improved coordination and motor skills – sharper movement patterns make daily tasks and athletic performance easier.
- Better balance and stability – enhanced body control can reduce the risk of falls.
- Enhanced athletic performance – critical for sports that require sprinting, jumping, and full-body coordination.
- Reduced injury risk – cross-body training can lower strain on the spine and joints, limiting overuse injuries.
Everyday impact
Contralateral reciprocation is not only important in sports but also in daily life. Movements like walking, climbing stairs, or lifting require natural cross-body coordination. Without reinforcing these patterns, athletes may face inefficiency, poor posture, or higher risk of injury.
Examples of contralateral exercises
Youth athletes benefit from exercises that emphasize cross-body communication. Coaches can include a variety of drills such as:
- Bear crawls (forward and reverse)
- Crab walks (forward and reverse)
- Alternating dead bugs
- Quadruped alternate pointers
- Marching with arm swings
- High-knee skips
- A-skips and B-skips
Adding these to workouts can help athletes strengthen coordination, improve efficiency, and move as the body was designed to.
Supporting Your Athlete’s Development
At Champion’s Quest in Los Alamitos, CA, our coaches specialize in training young athletes to build a strong foundation of movement, coordination, and performance. If your athlete needs guidance with contralateral exercises or a full training plan, we’re here to help.
Book a free consultation today to learn how Champion’s Quest can support your athlete’s development.
