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Track & Field and Athletics: #1 Sports site with latest training info for coaches and self-coached athletes
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THE TRIPLE JUMP
KNOW THE RULES!
It starts with a hop--takeoff and land on the same foot (left-left or right-right), then comes the step. The step begins with the same foot as the hop takeoff and landing. The step ends on the other foot (left-right or right-left). The takeoff for the jump phase is done with the landed foot from the step phase. The foot plant action is left-left-right of right-right-left.SOME BASICS
See the "long jump" page for approach/run-up information.
Unless the takeoff foot is opposite to the long jump takeoff foot, the approach is virtually the same in both jumps. Opposite foot takeoff would require one more stride in the approach run. The penultimate stride is the same.
On the takeoff stride, the foot should not extend quite as far forward and should land very slightly in front of the COM. Likewise, the lowering of the COM will be less than in the LJ. There should be more of a forward swing with the free leg, with the foot remaining on the board as long as possible. The foot should paw or push backward on the board. The recovery of the trail leg heel should be higher and the foot should continue up and over the opposite knee.
In the hop phase, there should only be a single arm forward swing, rather than a double arm swing as used in the LJ. The takeoff foot should extend forward making a more obtuse knee angle. The foot should land as nearly as possible to directly under the COM and it should rip backward at push-off.
In going into the step, the foot should extend backward forming an angle of near 90 degrees. The takeoff foot must extend forward, making an angle greater than 90 degrees. As the shin is extended, the ankle should become locked with the foot dorsiflexed.
As in the LJ, gaining height while maintaining forward velocity is critical in the jump phase. There must have been some lowering of the COM to obtain an upward motion at takeoff. The takeoff foot should rip backward on the board, then both legs are to be extended in front of the body. There should be a double arm swing, blocking and a rearward thrust as is done in the long jump.
GENERAL DRILLS
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Standing hop-step-jumps. This will start the learning process for the neuro-muscular system without having to worry about speed or injury.
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Use a four stride approach without much speed. This is a continuation of the learning process from the standing hop-step-jumps.
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To help obtain increased height all phases, do uphill bounding drills.
APPROACH DRILLS
- On the track, mark a start point. From that point sprint ahead and have a friend count your number of strides and mark the point where your foot lands on what would be your "take-off" foot plant (This should be about 14 strides for the beginner, going to 22 as strength and ability improve.) The jumper should be able to run this six times and have the foot land within a six inch pattern.
- Vary the start point so that you miss the "check point" (about six strides out) and have to adjust during this last six strides. This adjustment has to be made without slowing down while looking at the board. The jumper must make the adjustment while maintaining maximum speed.
HOP DRILLS
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Single leg hop up stairs.
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Single leg hops over cones. These should be soft in case the athlete lands on one.
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Continuous one legged hops with a butt kick action. Retract the heel as high as possible
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Continuous one legged hops with concentration on bringing the knee as high as possible. The femur should come up to where it is parallel with the running surface.
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Continuous one legged hops, combining the butt kick with the knee high action.
STEP DRILLS
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Using only the hop and step, set the takeoff point so that on the step, the landing is in the pit. Extend the takeoff point to force a longer step.
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Set up a grid for a series of standing hop-steps. Each succeeding hop-step is a little longer.
JUMP DRILLS
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Stand with both feet together and take one step and jump into the pit.
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Using a six stride approach, just do the step and jump phases, concentrating on the drive of the jump foot trying for maximum height during the jump.
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Same as above, concentrating on the arm action. Usually, the the triple jump takeoff foot is opposite to the long jump takeoff foot, so there is a difference in the arm action.
Recommended Resources
- Winning Jumps and Pole Vault by Ed Jacoby
- Terry Lomax: The Best of British Track & Field Long Jump Drills (DVD)
- Gary Derks: Track & Field News Presents: Technique and Drills for the Long Jump and Triple Jump (DVD)
- Irving "Boo" Schexnayder: Speed and Power Drills for the Horizontal Jumps (DVD)
- Mike Pullins: 25 Tips & Drills for Coaching Horizontal Jumps (DVD)
Related Articles:
The Triple Jump (this article)
"NOTES ON THE TRIPLE JUMP" by Jim Kiefer, Fullerton College
USATF Notes on the Triple Jump
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