Long Jump and It's Intricacies
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Long Jump is a field event. It is a distance jump along a prepared space. The athlete needs to run fast, jump into the air, push forward to cover a horizontal distance before landing.
Skills in Long Jump
The skills in Long Jump include the following:
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Approach run or Run-up: The jumper starts running from the starting position. He/she runs very fast concentrating on the take-off board.
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Take-off: The athlete makes contact with the take-off board with the take-off foot before jumping high and forward into the air.
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The jumper aims at jumping high to cover a good distance
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Flight: This is when the jumper is in the air. The performer lifts the whole body as high as possible as if in a flight. The take-off leg flexes and swings vigorously while the free leg is swung forward. The eyes, chin and chest must point upwards sailing in the air.
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Landing: During landing, the legs extends fully forward, buttocks reach a point almost touching the ground and the legs bend at the knees. With both feet together and parallel, the jumper lands on the heel first. This helps the jumper’s body to go over the knee.
Recovery: The jumper stands up gently from the landing pit and walks slowly, trying to regain energy and balance. The jumper should not lean backwards.
Rules in Long Jump
A wooden take-off board should be firmly fixed to the ground
An athlete who runs through the pit is regarded to have jumped, though the jump would not be measured
Somersaulting is not allowed
After the jump, measurement is taken at right angle from the edge of the take-off board to where any part of the body lands nearest to the take-off board
A jump is declared ‘no-jump’ when an athlete jumps from the side of the take-off board
The best jump of an athlete is used in deciding his/her position among other athletes
Each athlete is allowed three or six trials
In the case of a tie, an extra trial will be made by the jumpers concerned.