LONG JUMP

History

The long jump (historically called the broad jump) is a track and
field event in which athletes combine speed, strength and agility in an
attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point. Along with
the triple jump, the two events that measure jumping for distance as a
group are referred to as the "horizontal jumps". This event has a history in
the Ancient Olympic Games and has been a modern Olympic event for
men since the first Olympics in 1896 and for women since 1948. The long
jump was part of the pentathlon event in the Olympics in ancient Greece,
circa 708 B.C., according to Olympic.org. The other events in the
pentathlon were wrestling, discus and javelin throwing, and running.
Competitors used jump weights called halteres that were made from
stone or lead and shaped like telephone receivers. Long jumpers held the
haltere in front of themselves as they jumped into the air, then threw it
behind them as they descended. Halteres were thought to help jumpers
achieve longer distances.
Development

Jumping events including the long jump were held throughout ancient
Greece and Europe in festivals, fairs and the Pythian, Istmian and Nemean
games, according to Olympic.org. During the late 1800s in Europe and
the United States, pentathlon-like sporting events also included long
jumps, as did the first modern Olympics in 1896, although haltere weights
were eliminated. The long jump has been included in all of the games
since then, although women did not compete until the 1928 games in
Amsterdam, Holland. In 1912, the International Association of Athletics
Federations was created to govern the long jump and other track and
field sports, and the men’s long jump and other track and field events
were standardized in 1932.

Leaders

The United States and Europe have dominated the men’s Olympic long
jump throughout modern history. The most well-known of the American
long jumpers included Jesse Owens, who took the gold in Berlin in 1936. At
the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, Carl Lewis burst onto the Olympic
scene, taking the gold in the long jump. He held the gold in the long jump
for the next three Olympics, in 1988, 1992 and 1996. The Soviet Union and
East Germany were the top countries in the women’s long jump Olympic
events until Jackie Joyner-Kersee took the gold in 1988.

Modern Day

Today, many countries in Africa and Asia continue to dominate the

Olympic long jump events for both men and women, Olympic.org says.
More than 62 countries competed in track and field event finals during
the 2008 games in Beijing, China. As of the 2008 games, the Olympic
world record for the long jump was 8.95 meters, or 29 feet 8 ¼ inches, for
men, and 7.52 meters, or 24 feet 8 ¼ inches, for women. Lighter and better
shoes as well as advanced long-jump techniques have developed over
the centuries, giving modern athletes a competitive edge over their
predecessors.
Rules
The Long Jump was an event included in the ancient Greek Olympics,
although with significantly different rules. The Long Jump for men has
been a modern Olympicevent since 1896, along with the Standing Long
Jump. The latter event was dropped, however after the 1912 Olympics. A
women's Olympic long jump event was added in 1948. The event is
sometimes called "the broad jump."

Equipment and Jumping Rules

The sole of a long jumper’s shoe can have a maximum thickness of 13

millimeters.

Spikes are allowed.

The runway must be at least 40 meters long. Competitors may place as

many as two location markers on the runway. The jumper's farthest point
forward in contact with the takeoff board -- i. e., the toe of the jumper's
shoe -- must be behind the leading edge of the takeoff board. The board
itself must be 20 centimeters wide and level with the ground. Somersaults
are not permitted. Jumpers must land within the sand pit in the landing
area, which may vary in width from 2.75 to 3.0 meters. Jumps are
measured from the forward edge of the takeoff board to the impression in
the landing pit closest to the takeoff board made by any part of the
jumper's body.

Each jump must be completed within one minute from the time the
jumper steps onto the runway. Jumpe executed with a tailwind or more
than two meters per second don't count.

The Competition

Twelve competitors qualify for the Olympic long jump final.

Results from the qualification rounds do not carry over into the final.

Each finalist takes three jumps, then the top eight jumpers receive three
more attempts. The longest single jump during the final wins. If two jumpers
are tied, the jumper with the longer second best jump is awarded the
medal.
The Complexity of the Long Jump

Viewed casually, nothing could be simpler: the runner stands at the

beginning of the runway, accelerates to the takeoff board, then jumps as
far as he or she can.

In reality, the long jump is one of the more technical Olympic events.
There are at least three different techniques for approaching the takeoff
board, each with it's own arm and body position. The maximum
acceleration is achieved with the longest legal runup -- i. e., by using the
full 40 meters of the runway; but the more steps the jumper takes, the
more difficult it becomes to calibrate the takeoff with the forward edge of
the runner's takeoff foot as close as possible to the leading edge of the
takeoff board without fouling. All but the last two strides are normally the
same length. The second-to-last stride, however, is longer and is designed
to lower the runner's center of gravity; the last stride is shorter than the
others and is designed to do the opposite -- to lift thecenter of gravity of
the jumper's body as high as possible in order to begin executing the jump
itself. Hand and arm position as well as the jumper' body angle during the
time the jumper is in the air are also important.

Several different techniques are used in order to maximize the

jumper's total distance without causing the jumper to fall backward
during the landing.

Technique
There are five main components of the long jump: the approach run, the
last two strides, takeoff, action in the air, and landing. Speed in the run-up,
or approach, and a high leap off the board are the fundamentals of
success. Because speed is such an important factor of the approach, it is
not surprising that many long jumpers also compete successfully in sprints.
A classic example of this long jump / sprint doubling are performances
by Carl Lewis.

The approach
The objective of the approach is to gradually accelerate to a maximum
controlled speed at takeoff. The most important factor for the distance
travelled by an object is its velocity at takeoff – both the speed and
angle. Elite jumpers usually leave the ground at an angle of twenty
degrees or less; therefore, it is more beneficial for a jumper to focus on the
speed component of the jump. The greater the speed at takeoff, the
longer the trajectory of the center of mass will be. The importance of a
takeoff speed is a factor in the success of sprinters in this event.
The length of the approach is usually consistent distance for an athlete.
Approaches can vary between 12 and 19 strides on the novice and
intermediate levels, while at the elite level they are closer to between 20
and 22 strides. The exact distance and number of strides in an approach
depends on the jumper's experience, sprinting technique, and
conditioning level. Consistency in the approach is important as it is the
competitor's objective to get as close to the front of the takeoff board as
possible without crossing the line with any part of the foot.
Inconsistent approaches are a common problem in the event. As a result,
the approach is usually practiced by athletes about 6–8 times per jumping
session (see Training below).
The last two strides
The objective of the last two strides is to prepare the body for takeoff while
conserving as much speed as possible.
The penultimate stride is longer than the last stride. The competitor begins
to lower his or her center of gravity to prepare the body for the vertical
impulse. The final stride is shorter because the body is beginning to raise
the center of gravity in preparation for takeoff.
The last two strides are extremely important because they determine the
velocity with which the competitor will enter the jump.
Takeoff

The objective of the takeoff is to create a

vertical impulse through the athlete's center
of gravity while maintaining balance and
control.
This phase is one of the most technical parts
of the long jump. Jumpers must be conscious
to place the foot flat on the ground, because jumping off either the heels
or the toes negatively affects the jump. Taking off from the board heel-first
has a braking effect, which decreases velocity and strains the joints.
Jumping off the toes decreases stability, putting the leg at risk of buckling
or collapsing from underneath the jumper. While concentrating on foot
placement, the athlete must also work to maintain proper body position,
keeping the torso upright and moving the hips forward and up to achieve
the maximum distance from board contact to foot release.
There are four main styles of takeoff: the kick style, double-arm style, sprint
takeoff, and the power sprint or bounding takeoff.
Kick
The kick style takeoff is where the athlete actively cycles the leg before a
full impulse has been directed into the board then landing into the pit. This
requires great strength in the hamstrings. This causes the jumper to jump to
large distances.
Double-arm
The double-arm style of takeoff works by moving both arms in a vertical
direction as the competitor takes off. This produces a high hip height and
a large vertical impulse.
Sprint
The sprint takeoff is the style most widely instructed by coaching staff. This
is a classic single-arm action that resembles a jumper in full stride. It is an
efficient takeoff style for maintaining velocity through takeoff.
Power sprint or bounding
The power sprint takeoff, or bounding takeoff, is one of the more common
elite styles. Very similar to the sprint style, the body resembles a sprinter in
full stride. However, there is one major difference. The arm that pushes
back on takeoff (the arm on the side of the takeoff leg) fully extends
backward, rather than remaining at a bent position. This additional
extension increases the impulse at takeoff.
The "correct" style of takeoff will vary from athlete to athlete.
Long Jump Benefits
Explosive Strength

The biggest benefit of broad jump training for athletes is that it improves
the reaction of fast-twitch muscle fibers throughout the body. Like other
plyometric exercises, effective broad jumps require your leg and core
muscles to contract very quickly so you can generate maximal force with
each leap. According to sports physiologist Phil Davies, the squat you take
before a broad jump allows you to stretch your muscles and thus
generate a more powerful muscle contraction when you jump. He adds
that one or two plyometric training sessions per week can have a
significant effect on your explosive strength and in turn your sprinting and
jumping performance.