A method of using a training ladder, comprising the steps of: providing a collapsible athletic training ladder comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid polygon-shaped segments (30, 30'); and a plurality of elongate segment connectors (32, 32') each configured to be selectively pivotally connected along a first side, a second side, or a third side of the plurality of segments (30, 30'); joining the plurality of segments (30, 30') together to form a first configuration, wherein a first segment connector (32, 32') of the plurality of connectors (32, 32') pivotally connects a first side of a first segment (30, 30') with a first side of a second segment (30, 30') and a second segment connector (32, 32') of the plurality of connectors (32, 32') pivotally connects a second side of the second segment (30, 30') with a first side of a third segment of the plurality of segments (30, 30') of the athletic training ladder such that the first, second and third polygon-shaped segments (30, 30') define a straight running path in a first direction; and joining the plurality of segments (30, 30') together to form a second configuration, wherein the first segment (30, 30') connector pivotally connects the first side of the first segment (30, 30') with a third side, adjacent to the first side, of the second segment (30, 30') and the second segment connector (32, 32') pivotally connects the second side of the second segment (30, 30') with the first side of the third segment (30, 30'), such that the first, second, and third polygon-shaped segments (30, 30') define a second running path in which a portion of the second running pattern formed from the first and the second segments (30, 30') extends a second direction divergent from the first direction; wherein in either the first configuration or the second configuration, said first, second and third segments (30, 30') are pivoted about the first and second segment connectors (32, 32') so that the ladder is configured in a third configuration in which the first segment (30, 30') rests on top of said second segment (30, 30') and the second segment (30, 30') rests on top of the third segment (30, 30'), thereby defining a collapsed stack of said first, second, and third segments (30, 30'). providing a collapsible athletic training ladder comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid polygon-shaped segments (30, 30'); and a plurality of elongate segment connectors (32, 32') each configured to be selectively pivotally connected along a first side, a second side, or a third side of the plurality of segments (30, 30'); joining the plurality of segments (30, 30') together to form a first configuration, wherein a first segment connector (32, 32') of the plurality of connectors (32, 32') pivotally connects a first side of a first segment (30, 30') with a first side of a second segment (30, 30') and a second segment connector (32, 32') of the plurality of connectors (32, 32') pivotally connects a second side of the second segment (30, 30') with a first side of a third segment of the plurality of segments (30, 30') of the athletic training ladder such that the first, second and third polygon-shaped segments (30, 30') define a straight running path in a first direction; and joining the plurality of segments (30, 30') together to form a second configuration, wherein the first segment (30, 30') connector pivotally connects the first side of the first segment (30, 30') with a third side, adjacent to the first side, of the second segment (30, 30') and the second segment connector (32, 32') pivotally connects the second side of the second segment (30, 30') with the first side of the third segment (30, 30'), such that the first, second, and third polygon-shaped segments (30, 30') define a second running path in which a portion of the second running pattern formed from the first and the second segments (30, 30') extends a second direction divergent from the first direction; wherein in either the first configuration or the second configuration, said first, second and third segments (30, 30') are pivoted about the first and second segment connectors (32, 32') so that the ladder is configured in a third configuration in which the first segment (30, 30') rests on top of said second segment (30, 30') and the second segment (30, 30') rests on top of the third segment (30, 30'), thereby defining a collapsed stack of said first, second, and third segments (30, 30').