WHERE DO I START?

When a jumper stands on his/her checkmark between 25-45mts away from the take-off board they are effectively preparing to to land.

An efficient landing depends on the following factors:-

• How they start, how they run the runway, the preparation to take-off, the touchdown, the lifting from the board and the in-flight phase.
• An efficient landing position might add 10-30cms to the jump distance!

Initially, what I will do is to put to you some of the thoughts of long jump coaches and technical 'experts' around the world.

1. James G. Hay - The Biomechanics of Sports Techniques

Hay states 'that it is the inclination of the jumpers trunk that leads to a good landing. He says that if the jumper leans well forward during the FINAL moments of the flight, the legs are lifted in reaction to this movement and the touchdown is SLIGHTLY delayed'.

2. Gunter Tidow - Model Technique Analysis in Long Jumping

Tidow believes that it is the timing of the arms that contributes to a good landing. From the high arm position at the apex of the flight phase - it is the timing of the arms forwards and backwards which is key. The landing posture resulting from well timed arm actions contrubutes to an efficient landing.

He says that that at the moment of breaking of the sand the arms are either parallel in front of the body or laterally beside the body.

3. Boo Schexnayder - Simplifying The Long Jump

Schexnayder states 'preparation for landing should begin near the peak of the flight. The torso should stay up as landing approaches, and a forward and downward sweep of the arms should accompany the extension of the legs. An upright torso should be maintained at and after impact.

Upon impact the hips and knees should flex, allowing the butt to come to the heels. Finally, as the butt comes to the heels, the feet should be kicked forward to allow the butt to land in the hole created by the feet.

The landing progression for landing skills starts with gymnastic standing long jumps [standing long jumps with the jumper landing in a balanced upright position, arms in front] to the same with a squat [to teach the absorption component] to the previous two skills folowed by a kickout [a simultaneous roll onto the buttocks and kicking action of the legs, to develop the clearing of the feet so that the buttocks may land in the mark made by the feet', to standing long jumps and running long jumps with actual complete landings.

May 21st: Came upon this in a jumps forum relating to landing:-

 "I don’t think it’s possible to pull yourself through with your hamstrings considering the speed you are hopefully travelling. Especially if the sand is in any kind of good, soft condition.

Get your hands high above your head and in a big long arm motion sweep your hands down and past your hips as you try to keep your chest up.  As you are sweeping the arms down, reach out with your feet as far as possible, when your heels hit the sand let the knees collapse so your butt goes towards your heels and lands in the hole your feet made.  Kick the sand away as your butt goes towards the heels.  You can also push your shoulders back after your heels hit the sand and that tends to help scoot you through and prevent your butt from landing shorter than your feel.  Saladino tends to do this."

.....work in progress.....