Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1989
by I.A.A F
Bob Myers
The take-off in the jumping events is 3. Thc Long Jump and Triple Jump
not easily analyzed with the human
eye. Additionally, many coaches coach The primary goal of the take-off in
evenis other than the jumps and find it long and triple jumps should be lo
hard to see this complex movement. mainiain horizontal velocity (with less
Even more important is the fact that a than lO^^o deceleration) while develop-
large number of youlh athleles are ing enough vertical velocity lo lake off
coached by beginning level club or at an angle of 15-25 degrees. The pho-
school coaches who do nol have tos of Willie Banks (USA) and Helga
enough experience to accurately see Radke (GDR) are good illustrations of
and make judgements about the take- the correct mechanics of the penulti-
off in the jumps by watching. mate step.
I would surmise that most coaches In the long jump, the cenire of mass
do not have access to the expensive is lowered slightly, (about a 7*^o devia-
video equipment which would help tion for men and 4% for women from
ihem in this area. 1 would therefore like sprinting), as the touchdown of the
to propose ihai many coaches can uti- penultimate step is slightly heel first
lise another sense in analyzing and (not on the ball of the foot like top
teaching take-off technique. That sense speed sprinting). The ankle should be
is the sense of hearing. at a 90 degree angle to the shin. The
locity at take-off here is the top priori- of horizontal velocity to vertical veloci-
ty, bolh arms must be used to attain ty. This also detracts from the stretch-
impulse. So while ihe penultimate step reflex activity of the take-off leg which
is pulling back rapidly, both arms are aides in developing peak vertical ve-
puUing back behind ihe body, about locity.
hip level, much like a swimming stroke.
Since ihe main goal is vertical veloci-
ty rather than horizontal, the take-off 5. Conclusion
leg is used more like a pole vault pole. While, at first, you may nol be able
The earlier it is planted, the smoother to distiguish the difference between the
the conversion from horizontal to verti- sound of correct and incorrect penulti-
cal. To realize this early plant, the key mate steps and take-offs, with a mini-
again is a quick, fiai, pulling, penulti- mum of practice hearing can become
mate step which does noi drag the as practical as seeing (as many blind
ground as it drives off inlo the people will attest). By learning to use
take-off. your sense of hearing for this purpose
The penultimate step usually in- you will be gaining an additional
cludes deeper knee joint flexion in the coaching tool.
high jump compared to the long jump. With a belter understanding of the
Because of this increased negalive ver- mechanics of the penultimate step and
tical velocity, the sound is again a take-off, and by using the feedback
resonant sound due to a heel first, but provided by sound, it is possible to sys-
almost flat footed, ground contact. lemalically teach athletes belter take-
Again, too much deceleration will yield off technique. I feel we can have many
a loud, blocking sound caused by an more proficient jumpers at every level
overly long penultimate step. in the athletic ranks and many coaches
Where many younger athletes gel of potentially brilliant alhletes can be
into trouble is an overly long take-off spared the agony of seeing their ath-
76 step. This severely hinders conversion letes stagnate instead of improve. tH
REFERENCES
DAPENA JESUS. Biomechanical Analysis Rome 1987. London; International
of the Fosbury Flop. TAC funded Bi- Amateur Alhletic Federation, 1988.
omechanies Reasearch, 1988. RITZDORF W., CONRAD A. Biomechan-
DOHtRTY J.KENNETH. Track and Field ical Analysis of the High Jump. II World
Omnibook. Los Altos CA: Track and Field Championships - Rome 1987, London; In-
News. 1985. ternational .^maleu^ Alhletic Federation,
HAY JAMES. Practical Findings from Re- 1988
cent Research on the Horizonial Jumps. SUSANKA P., JURDIK M.. KOUKAL J.,
TAC funded Biomechanies Findings Sum- KRATKY P., VELEBIL V. Biomechanical
marized, 1988. Analysis of the Triple Jump. II World
NIXDORF E., BRUGGEMANN P. Bi- Championships in Alhlelics - Rome 1987,
omechanical Analysis of the Long Jump - London; International Amateur Athletic
II World Championships in Athletics - Federation. 1988
77