Development of long jump technique in young athletes Luca Mampieri, Valentina Camomilla, Elena Bergamini, Laura Capranica, Maria Francesca Piacentini University of Rome-Foro Italico Long jump is one of the most natural track and field disciplines but not the most simple. Long jump is divided in four fundamental phases: run-up, take-off, flight and landing. Run-up and take-off are the two phases that will determine the success in this event. Results from previous studies showed that take-off execution can discriminate between elite and non elite athletes (Chen-Fu and Chen-Shou 2007). Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to discriminate between different performance levels by measuring technical and cinematic parameters. METHODS Ten long jump and triple jump athletes were divided in two subgroups: specialized, S (age 17,6 ± 2,41, personal best 5,92 ± 1,07 m), and non specialized, NS (age 13,4 ± 1,1, personal best 4,59 ± 0,58 m) and tested during a training session. The following long-jump parameters were obtained through videoanalysis (Dartfish TeamPro): horizontal and vertical velocity and ankle angle at take-off and touch-down, knee flexion of the take-off leg at take-off, time on board, and differences between the last two steps (Hay 1992). Force related tests were performed on a force platform: counter movement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), and standing long jump (SLJ). Differences between the long jump parameters of the two groups were analysed with unpaired student t test and a Pearson correlation was performed between tests and long jump parameters. RESULTS No significant differences were observed in performance between S and NS, however S jumped 12,76 % more. The length of the last two steps were significantly different between S and NS (S penultimate and last step 2,29 ± 0,21 and 2,03 ± 0,1 respectively; NS penultimate and last step 1,85 ± 0,08 and 1,77 ± 0,13 respectively). SLJ was significantly correlated with CMJ (r = 0,95) and performance measured in competition (r = 0,98) in S but not in NS. DISCUSSION The results of the present study demonstrate that technical abilities were significantly different between the two groups while the results of specific tests (CMJ, DJ, SLJ ) did not differ. The NS still train and compete in different disciplines and therefore have good strength and speed capacities but lack in technical precision. In order to improve as well, and try to reach the elite, they should concentrate on one preferred discipline only. REFERENCES Chen-Fu H., Chen-Shou K. (2007) Biomechanical differences between jumpers and sprinters on long jump performance. J. Biomech XXI ISB Congress, 2007. Hay J. G. (1992) The biomechanics of sports techniques. Prentice-Hall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Published by The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. All rights reserved.