To ensure precise foot placement on the take-off board, long jumpers visually regulate the stride pattern during their run-up. The relationship between the timing of visual regulation (VR) and long jump (LJ) distance has not, however, been quantified. Further, run-up precision is practiced using run-throughs (RT), which exclude the take-off and, therefore, the high physical stress of the complete LJ. The validity of this training method to simulate the LJ approach has not been investigated. Six national-class long jumpers (male=3, female=3) completed two sessions, each comprising of six RTs and six competition LJs. Alternating 50cm black and white markings were placed on each side of the LJ runway. One panning 50Hz camera filmed each trial from an elevated platform to evaluate the gait characteristics, whilst one 250Hz camera filmed the LJ take-off to assess the kinematic action. Linear regression analyses identified that a high average step velocity and a more vertical take-off angle were key predictors of LJ distance. Early VR enabled the athletes to make small systematic adjustments to stride length, without sacrificing approach velocity, in order to strike the board in an optimal take-off position. The VR of the RT was ascertained to be only 60% of that observed during the LJ. The RT, therefore, does not fully simulate the LJ approach. Based on these findings, LJ coaches should consider additional VR exercises to supplement the RT and optimally train their long jumpers` approach.
© Copyright 2003 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport and Third National Sports Injury Prevention Conference: 2003. Tackling the barriers of performance and participation. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.