Athletics
Jamie French and Ian Hill
Horizontal Jumps
Learning Outcomes

Within this lecture and practical series we
will:◦ Understand the biomechanical principles
behind both Horizontal Jumps
 Understand the coaching points and biomechanical
principles behind horizontal jumps
◦ Understand the link to the physiological
considerations behind training for Horizontal
Jumps
◦ Discuss the importance of plyometric training
for jumps
References
Jacoby, E. and Fraley, B. (1995) The
complete book of jumps. Human Kinetics:
Leeds
 Grimshaw, P., Lees, A., Fowler, N.and
Burden, A. (2006) Sport and Exercise
Biomechanics. Taylor Francis: London

Better References
Linthorne, N., Guzman, M. and Bridgett, L.
(2005) Optimum take-off angle in the Long
Jump. Journal of Sports Sciences. 23 (7). 703 –
712
 Graham-Smith, P and Lees, A. (2005) A threedimensional kinematic analysis of the long jump
take-off . Journals of Sports Sciences. 23 (9).
891 - 903

Horizontal Jumps – World Records

Long Jump

◦ Mike Powell 8.95m
 1991 World Athletics Champs in
Tokyo
◦ Galina Christyakova 7.52m
 1988 Leningrad Russian National
Champs
Triple Jump
◦ Jonathon Edwards 18.29m
 1995 World Champs in Goteborg
◦ Inessa Ktavets 15.50m
 1995 World Champs in Goteborg
Records

What is consistently the most important
factor in these jumps?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybEs3j_MmrA
Some Important Principles

Projectile Motion
◦
◦
◦
◦
R= Range
v = velocity at release
Θ = release angle
g = acceleration due to gravity (-9.81m/sec-2)
v2 sin 2θ
R=
g
Into English

Speed at Take Off
◦ Velocity of body upon release

Angle of Take off
◦ Angle at which the body takes off at
Speed is Important
Horizontal velocity of the CM
between 6m and 1 m
in front of the takeoff board (in
metres per second)
Triple Jump Performance
(in metres+1-0.50m)
10.50
17.50
10.25
17.00
10.00
16.50
9.80
16.00
9.60
15.50
9.45
15.00
9.40
14.50
(Hutt. Date Unknown)
Phases of the Jump

-
-
Consistent across all jumps:
Approach
Take off
Flight
Landing
(UKA 2004)
Running – Approach
Long and Triple Jump

Running Gait – split into TWO main phases
◦ Support or Stance – feet on the ground
 (No double support phase)
◦ Swing – when foot is off the ground
 Also a period of flight
 When?
◦ Ratio of these alters faster you travel
 40% stance: 60% swing moving to max 20% stance for top
sprinters
(Grimshaw, Lees, Fowler and Burden. 2006)
Forces

Ground Reaction Force
Direction of Travel
Foot Strike
(contact point)
◦ Very Important
C of M
◦ First contact with floor is
actually breaking
◦ Hips lower by knee and hip
flexion
Ground Reaction Force
 But some good news!!
 Energy stored in Achilles as
Elastic Potential Energy
(Grimshaw, Lees, Fowler and
Burden. 2006)
Directional forces
Implications for last few strides?

What do you think are the implications
for how you should coach the last few
strides of run up?
Take Off
Long and Triple Jump

Counter Movement
◦ Prior to take off hip, knee and ankle all under go period
of flexion
 Knee and ankle same for all jumps, hip will flex more in higher
Jumps
(Graham-Smith and Lees. 2005)
◦ Knee Flexion between 130 ° - 140°
 Lower the better
Why have a Counter Movement?

Two Purposes
◦ Stimulate “Stretch-Shorten Cycle”
 Up to 10% increase in distance
 Faster the better!
◦ What type of Contraction?
◦ Better position for propulsive phase
 Greater time for force to be exerted
 Long Jump – 0.12 seconds
 Triple Jump – 0.18 seconds
(Graham-Smith. 2009)
 But significant differences in “type” of Jumper
Lets Compare British Champions
Forces at
Take-off (LJ & TJ)
Direction of Travel
Upper Body Inertia
C of M
Foot Strike
(contact point)
Ground Reaction Force
Lower Body Forces
Directional forces
Implications

Forward rotation
◦ GRF cause torque and therefore forward somersault
movement
◦ Impossible to apply corrective torque in the air
 Why??
◦ But you can SLOW down rotations in the air
 Long thin body shape (Moving into flight phase)
(UKA 2004)
Long Thin Shape in Air – for both LJ
and TJ

Relies on definition of angular momentum
◦ AM = moment of inertia X Angular Velocity
◦ As Angular Momentum is constant (in air), rotation
(angular velocity) will depend on Moment of inertia
◦ This is controlled by elongating body therefore
slowing forward rotation
Long and Triple Flight
Differences in Triple Jump Flight

Long Jump Angle of Take Off
◦ 18 - 23° (Linthorn, Guzman and Bridgett. 2005)
◦ 43 ° (de Mestre, 1990; Hay, 1993), 33 ° (Tan and
Zumerchik 2000)
 Issues with measurement methodology

In what way is this different for Triple
Jump?
Think Forces
Collapsing from the hop meaning the step
is VERY short!!
 Conservation of momentum through
each phase is impossible
 Overloading upon landing

◦ How to correct?
Alternative Flight Techniques - Hitch
Kick – LJ Only
◦ Segments of the body contribute to counteracting the bodies total
rotation
◦ Groups of body segments are rotated in a way to generate
momentum equal to whole body angular momentum
◦ NO net rotation about centre of mass
Landing
Different for LJ and TJ

Long Jump
◦ Making an efficient, safe landing
 Not backward rotation reducing distance
 “All jumps shall be measured from the nearest
break in the landing area made by any part of the
body to the take-off line....” Rule 185.3 (IAAF 2006
P144)
◦ Triple Jump
 Hop and Step Phases to conserve momentum into
next phase