High Jump Approach Mapping A New Way to Develop A Consistent High Jump Approach
W
hen Dick Fosbury introduced the world to the “flop” high jump technique at the 1968 Olympic Games, it became the gold standard for high jumping from beginners to Olympic champions. The “Fosbury Flop” has gained popularity through the years due to its simplicity to learn and its efficiency over the previously used straddle, roll or scissors techniques. Development of an approach that is specific to each individual is of the utmost importance in order for a jumper to clear the highest bars efficiently while avoiding unnecessary injury in the process. A non-debatable fact about using a curved approach is its purpose: To cre-
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ate inward lean and centripetal force. The resulting forces after takeoff create a twisting backwards somersault that allows the athlete to twist their back to the bar while simultaneously rotating the body over it (Dapena & Ficklin, 2007). By doing this efficiently, it is possible for a jumper’s center of mass (COM) to potentially pass below the bar, meaning that the athlete does not have to jump as high to successfully clear the bar. These principles will be used to answer the question of where to begin developing a high jump approach. For the purposes of this article, a 10 stride “J” style run up will be used. This includes a five-stride acceleration on a straight line and a five stride portion on
a curve. My goal for this article is for you to be able to map out a full approach and quantify several useful pieces that are often neglected: The attack angle at of the end of the approach and the arc length. PREVIOUSLY USED METHODS The two most widely used approach development methods are: the “J” run back, and straight line approaches that are transferred onto a curve. There are inconsistencies with each of these methods that may lead to technical issues later in the athlete’s development. The “J” run back is performed by an athlete starting at a takeoff point an arm’s length away from the bar and running KIRBY LEE IMAGE OF SPORT
