High Jump - 3/12/17

We returned to Lovejoy High School to work with Coach Buzz Andrews of Texas Express Track Club on high jump.  There were some similarities to last week’s pole vault lesson, but definite differences as well.

 

After a warm-up jog and some stretches, we talked a bit about the approach to high jumping.  When the high jump was first competed, there were no cushy foam mats, usually sand, so the jumpers mainly landed on their feet.  As the sport progressed, and mats were added, jumpers moved more to a “roll” style jump where they faced the bar and rotated the length of their body parallel to it.  In 1968, Dick Fosbury won a gold medal at the Mexico City Olympic games and brought his style, what became known as the “Fosbury Flop” into the spotlight.  To this day, nearly all jumpers use this technique that has them bending backwards over the bar.

 

The general concept is a sprint run-up, straight toward the bar, but off to one side.  The final few steps are then taken in a curve, becoming parallel with the bar.  The shape that is defined by this run is a “J”.  As the jumper approaches the bar and begins the turn, the body will lean away from the bar, due to centripetal force pulling the body inward toward the center of the circle shape they are running.  When the jumper lifts the knee and arms to begin their jump, the force is released and the body can then bend and get over the bar.

 

We started off like last week by running the “J” backwards, from the mat.  That defined our starting marks.  Then we did a few runs without jumping, to ensure our bodies were leaning away properly.

J shows the proper lean away from the bar

Then we did some initial jumps onto the mat with no bar.  A couple of us really struggled with either trying to jump off of the wrong foot, or trying to hop off of both feet.  In order to complete a successful jump, you must jump off of one foot and the bar must remain on the stand (touching it is okay, as long as it doesn’t fall).  Personally, my body just didn’t want to make the backward bend – I looked more like a doll with no bendable limbs falling back into the mat!  As some of us got the feel for it, we worked over the bungee “bar” to a height of around 3-4 feet.  The other two of us did really get the hang of a more sideways motion over the bungee and even managed to fully clear it once or twice.

 

R shows great form at takeoff with arms up and knee high

L1 cleared the highest bar

Even with our mixed success, we were all glad we had the opportunity to try this event, especially with the assistance of a great coach.  Thanks again, Buzz!  High Jump (event #105) complete!