How to Improve Jumping for Distance
By Learning Center·
How to Improve Jumping for Distance
When it comes to matters to do with long jump, a fraction of an inch can be all that you need to wear that medal on your way home, or leave you with a fourth place ribbon.
This is a clear indicator that distance is very vital and getting the maximum distance during your jump should always be the goal. Jump experts argue that application of timely force and in the right manner is all it takes to be a consistent performer in long jump. As much as this might sound easy, the challenge is getting the right technique that maximizes your take off angle without reducing your take off velocity.
In order to get the best distance out of your jump, here are a few expert steps and tips you need to follow:
Take off
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It is important that a jumper keeps accelerating with their last two steps and keep off slow speeds or over-stepping into the board, as this will affect your speed as well as takeoff angle.
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Ensure that your shoulders, ankles and hips are in alignment with each other and avoid leaning back, as this will slow you down.
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Most track & field events put a lot of emphasis on the starting phase and it is no different from long jump. The take off stage of this event also requires that an athlete maintains a 23 to 25 degree angle from horizontal. This position comes from the hips and is an ideal trajectory that allows for maximum distance out of your jump.
In the Air
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Make sure your feet stay up. At this point, athletes can make use of the hitch kick technique where an athlete looks like running or riding a bicycle in the air. Alternatively, the hang technique can do the trick where the jumper puts their hands over the head, curl their feet behind them and arch their back.
Landing
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This stage is very crucial. Make sure you get things right by pushing your feet in front of you as much as possible. Avoid your butt or hands hitting the ground first by immediately pushing forward once your feet touch the ground and scoot your buttocks down onto your heels.
What you need to do to jump farther is simple but not easy. If you want to expedite getting from where you are to the next level be sure to include coaching and video analysis in your training program. The sport is a game of inches, fractions of inches to be precise. Having a coach who sees your performance through a different set of eyes will shorten your learning curve immensely and take you from also ran to the medal platform.