IMPORTANT TRIPLE JUMP- LONG JUMP

 There are many qualities you need to be a good triple jumper, for example Speed, Power and Quickness (the ability to quickly take off as soon as you hit the ground between the phases). Also, we cannot forget rhythm, coordination and balance.

When an athlete has those qualities, he has to put it all together to create a perfect balance for the jump.

The approach is one of the most important parts of an athlete's jump and this will be my first topic.

Speed during the approach is essential for Triple jump. The problem here however, is that most jumpers don`t know how to run, and this problem can be found even in professional athletes.  I know that this comment will bring controversy out there, but this is the reality.

Let me explain; as a Coach the first thing that you have to teach your athlete is how run to the board, but also how to control the approach from the beginning, to the take-off moment.

The athlete has to learnt how to push the track during the runway. It feels like grabbing the track with your spike and then passing it under the hip and pushing it back, leaving the track behind you. This push will give the jumper strength and speed.

When an athlete is able to push the track through the approach at the time of the take-off, it is even easier to put the board under the hip, achieving a good and controlled horizontal hop and especially a good distance.

Next, we cannot forget arm coordination; good arm coordination prepares the jumper for the moment of the take-off, in this case the hop.

It doesn’t matter how fast you run- if the athlete is not able to push the track and is not able to control the speed of approach, and top of that does not have good arm coordination, - this will cause instability in the first jump (hop). In most cases, this will cause the body to collapse throughout all the phases, reducing the distance, and possibly leading to injuries of the ankle or the Achilles tendon.

There are many exercises out there to teach the athlete how to really run, but remember that each athlete has their own individual qualities, and therefore any exercise programme should be tailored to meet their specific needs in order to best develop their technical qualities.

After the athlete masters how to run, he has to move on to the next stage, of learning how to bounce, a subject I'll talk about that in my next Blog.