The Landing

 

Possibly one of the more neglected aspects of the whole skill. In order to land more efficiently what comes before the actual landing must have been done well.

 

A good take-off at the optimal speed coupled with good height from the board will have a bearing on how the jumper lands.

 

Air-time is a pre-requisite for an efficient landing. An efficient landing with leg chute can find a jumper between 25-30cms.

 

The timing of the arms is important to activate the action/reaction of the arms and legs prior to landing.

 

So what I’m saying is that coaching time must be given to this aspect. Lots of short approach runs from 6, 8, 10 and 12 strides are required to TIME the landing.

 

Emphasis on arms is important. You don’t want the arms coming over the ‘top’ too fast. This tends to initiate excessive forward lean and the legs drop too quickly.

I sometimes use a very low, level ramp [10cms high] to give the jumper height. This will give the jumper the time in the air to allow the limbs to ‘be placed’ in position. The timing of the leg chute is important. Use of a high ramp—in excess of 10cms gives a flight path which has to steep a descent and the jumper finds it difficult to raise the legs above the flight curve [parabola].

 

 

 

 

 

The coaching trend  is to attack the board and to limit loss of speed at contact time and actual take-off.

 

 

Coaches are now finding that technically  aesthetically pleasing flight techniques are somewhat rushed so  coaches have to work on the ‘reactive properties’ at take-off and to devise appropriate training drills to facilitate these now faster approach runs.

 

 

 The neuromuscular properties of muscle structure must be educated to accommodate very quick reactive take-offs. So there must be positive transfer of learning from the skill/drill practices used by the athlete and coach.

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Use of Video:

With the advent of the Digital Camera which now have a ‘movie programme’, the filming of jumpers is lot easier. It fits in your pocket—nothing cumbersome to carry but excellent for what you need.

My camera editing package on my computer allows me to see so many things.

The diagram above shows the low ramp drill which allows the jumper more time in the air to position the limbs BUT more importantly the time to FEEL the limbs in the correct position. If a jumper can feel the movement and understand why then that jumper will learn.

Upright upper torso with arms held high to hold back shoulders

Wide Split

Eyes

My new website can be found at:

 

www.longjumping.co.uk