TnT Unleashed 1pic4twenty Blog

 

There’s nothing more upsetting, especially for a primary school long jumper, than managing to get that toe perfectly on the take-off board, to have run up to the long jump take-off board at a tremendous speed, and to have jumped high and far – a jump to be proud of, and then the athlete takes a step back upon landing…

Although a primary school athletics coach has perfectly coached a child to run hard and jump high – enabling a jump of further distance at the long jump pit – a coach should never forget to always keep reminding the athlete not to step back after landing.

The closest mark in the sand to the take-off board is where the jump is measured from, and what a pity this has to be used if the long jumper did not walk out the font of the sand pit (or at least take a step or two forward before exiting the pit on the side).

It must also be remembered that if the child falls back upon landing, puts their hand down, or even lies down completely, then the measurement for the jump will be taken from where the hand or head landed, and not the feet.

For athletes to avoid falling back in a long jump sandpit, they should listen carefully to their coach when their coach gives them tips about height and speed. A long jumper need not even worry about distance if technique, speed, and height are good. The increased distance will be automatic.

To find out more about getting the perfect run up, and demonstrating to primary school athletes how height and speed can help increase the distance of a jump, please see my website article that offers
tips for primary school long jump parents or coaches.

Also see:
Who am I to give long jump or running advice?

© Teresa Schultz