1. High Jump Fundamentals
Danielle Dobias
OPRF

2. High Jump Highlights

3. Jumping Styles
Prior to The Fosbury Flop, the technique used to get over the bar was a straddle or scissor technique. This revolutionary style of jumping was showcased when Dick Fosbury used it to win the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics. The biggest difference between the two jumping styles was that with the flop, the jumper goes over the bar upside down, facing the sky. This allows the jumper to bend their back which lowers the center of mass. The straddle technique can be quite useful as a training tool which I will touch on later.

4. Identifying a High Jumper
Tall and thin
Ability to dunk; preferably off one foot
Fearless
Good body control
Body awareness

5. Two types of jumpers Speed jumper Long legs Over 6 feet tall
Thin; low muscle tone
Fast
Stays tall at take-off
Power jumper
Under 6 feet tall
Muscular
Powerful
Slow
Gets low at take-off

6. Take-off foot
Tell the athlete to stand with feet together and close their eyes. Walk behind them and push them forward in between their shoulder blades. The foot that they step forward with will be the stronger foot therefore determining the take-off foot.

7. Elements of the Jump Part 1: Straightaway
Shorter approach for power jumpers/Short sprinters (8 steps)
Longer approach for speed jumpers/slower athletes (13 steps)
The jumper should be very tall during the straightaway
Determine the number of steps by having the athlete pick an arbitrary mark between BLANK AND BLANK feet away from the bar
Watch several run-thru’s and make adjustments
You will see things the athletes can not and they will feel things you can not so make sure to talk through each potential mark before making changes
Pay close attention to the penultimate step
This is the step before the plant and it is more telling than the plant step

8. Problems with Straightaway
- Jumper stands tall at their mark and as soon as they begin their approach they hunch over
Solution #1
- Add slight backbends to jumpers pre-jump routine
- If jumper hunches during approach work blow a whistle and have them start approach over
Problem #2
In the last step of the straightaway the jumper crosses the outside foot over the inside foot which leads them cut straight into the bar
Solution #2
Work on softening the curve; may need to move it out or in depending on how the jumper is starting the turn a
Consider starting with opposite foot taking the first step and adding/removing a step
Problem #3
The jumper stares at the bar for the entire approach and takes off in the middle of the bar
Solution
Jumper should look straight ahead during the straightaway and the farthest end of the bar during the curve

9. Problems with Curve
Problem #1

10. Training Plyometrics Core Yoga Spin workouts Pool workouts Basketball
50 meter sprints
Towel runs
Box jumps
Hurdle Work