PaceSetter Book

Jumping Activities 5

Take-off is with the foot furthest from the bar and combined with the use of both arms drives the hips upwards. The knee of the free leg is driven up at take-off and is straightened to allow clearance over the bar. The take-off leg follows quickly so that the legs 'scissor' over the bar. Landing on low mats is with the free leg followed by the take-off leg for stability and balance. With proper high jump landing mats the young athlete can 'fall' onto the mat. The posture should be kept as upright as possible throughout the jump. Start with a low bar and a four-stride approach with young athletes. Progress can then be made to six-stride and eight-stride approaches and to gradual increases in the height of the bar by approximately 5 centimetres at a time. It must be noted that an eight-stride approach is an optimal maximum as most young athletes cannot cope with the speed of longer approaches, which in turn will have a negative effect on their jumping ability. WEB COPY ©EVEQUE

WEB COPY ©EVEQUE

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