Have you ever seen someone do a standing long jump? You might have seen it in a track and field event or even in a gym class. But how can you do a standing long jump? And what is a standing long jump? We’ll be exploring all aspects of the standing long jump In this comprehensive guide: from understanding what it is to improving your technique and even competing in a standing long jump event.
What is a Standing Long Jump?
A standing long jump is an athletic event where the participant attempts to jump the longest distance they can without the use of any running steps. It is also known as a standing broad jump, and it is a popular event in track and field competitions. The goal is to jump as far as possible from a standing position, without taking any steps or running strides.
The distance of the jump is usually measured from where the participant’s toes left the ground, to the nearest point of contact with the ground when they landed. The current world record for a standing long jump is held by Mike Powell, who jumped 8.95 meters in 1991.
Benefits of Doing a Standing Long Jump
Doing a standing long jump is a great way to develop strength and power in your lower body. It is an excellent exercise for developing explosive leg strength, as well as improving your balance and coordination. It can also help to increase your vertical jump, which is important for basketball and other sports.
In addition to the physical benefits, standing long jumps can also be a great way to build confidence and mental strength. When you attempt a standing long jump, you are pushing yourself to your absolute limits and this can help to build your mental strength and resilience.
How to Perform a Standing Long Jump
Performing a standing long jump is not as complicated as it may seem. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps:
-
- Start by standing in an athletic stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms slightly bent.
- Push off the ground with your legs, using your arms to swing up and back for momentum.
- As you swing your arms, jump forward and land on the ground with your feet together.
- As soon as you land, quickly jump back and land on your feet in an athletic stance.
Measure the distance from where your toes left the ground, to the nearest point of contact with the ground when you landed.
The key to performing a successful standing long jump is to stay agile, generate momentum, and land as far forward as possible.
Different Types of Standing Long Jumps
There are several different types of standing long jumps that can be performed. These include:
- The Two-Step Jump: This is where you take two steps before you jump. This is a great way to generate more power and momentum for your jump.
- The Triple Jump: This is a more complex version of the standing long jump, where you take three steps before you jump. This variation is commonly used in track and field competitions.
- The Standing Broad Jump: This is another variation of the standing long jump, where you don’t take any steps before you jump. This is the most common type of standing long jump, and it is the variation used for track and field competitions.
- The Vertical Jump: This is another variant of the standing long jump, where you don’t take any steps before you jump. The goal is to jump as high as possible, instead of trying to jump the farthest distance.
Tips for Improving Your Standing Long Jump
If you want to improve your standing long jump, there are a few tips you can follow:
- Practice Proper Form: Make sure you practice the proper form for the standing long jump. This will help you maximize your power and momentum and jump further.
- Increase Your Leg Strength: Doing exercises that target the muscles in your legs will help you to generate more power when you jump. Squats, lunges, and calf raises are great exercises to do to increase leg strength.
- Increase Your Core Strength: Strengthening your core will help you to maintain good form when you jump and maximize your power. Planks, oblique crunches, and Russian twists are all good exercises to do to improve your core strength.
- Practice Plyometrics: Plyometrics are exercises that involve explosive movements, such as jumping or bounding. Doing plyometrics will help you to increase your power and explosiveness, which will help you jump further.
- Increase Your Flexibility: Improving your flexibility will help you to maintain proper form during the jump and increase the range of motion of your legs. Stretching and foam rolling are both great ways to increase your flexibility.
The Different Muscles Involved in a Standing Long Jump
The standing long jump is a great way to strengthen and work multiple muscle groups in your lower body. The primary muscles involved in the standing long jump are:
- Quadriceps: The quadriceps are the muscles located on the front of your thighs. These muscles are responsible for extending your legs and generating power when you jump.
- Hamstrings: The hamstrings are the muscles located on the back of your thighs. These muscles are responsible for flexing your legs and helping you maintain proper form when you jump.
- Glutes: The glutes are the muscles located in your buttocks. These muscles are responsible for helping you generate power when you jump, as well as helping you maintain balance and stability.
- Calves: The calves are the muscles located in the back of your lower legs. These muscles are responsible for helping you maintain balance and stability when you jump.
Training for a Standing Long Jump
If you want to improve your standing long jump, it is important to incorporate a variety of exercises into your training routine. Here are some exercises that will help you to improve your standing long jump:
- Plyometric Jumps: Plyometric jumps are exercises that involve explosive movements, such as jumping or bounding. Doing these types of exercises will help you to increase your power and explosiveness, which will help you jump further.
- Weight Training: Doing exercises that target the muscles in your lower body will help you to increase your strength and power and tone your legs. Squats, lunges, and calf raises are all good exercises to increase leg strength with bodyweight leg exercises.
- Core Exercises: Strengthening your core will help you to maintain good form when you jump and maximize your power. Planks, oblique crunches, and Russian twists are all good exercises to do to improve your core strength.
- Flexibility Training: Improving your flexibility will help you to maintain proper form during the jump and increase the range of motion of your legs. Stretching and foam rolling are both great ways to increase your flexibility.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Doing a Standing Long Jump
When performing a standing long jump, it is important to avoid making any common mistakes. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid:
- Not Stretching: Note that a stretching routine is very important. Not stretching before a standing long jump can lead to injuries. Make sure you take the time to warm up and stretch your muscles before attempting a standing long jump.
- Not Using Your Arms: Your arms are an important part of the standing long jump. Make sure you use your arms to generate momentum and power when you jump.
- Not Maintaining Proper Form: Maintaining proper form is essential for a successful standing long jump. Make sure you keep your back straight and your arms bent when you jump.
- Not Generating Enough Momentum: Generating enough momentum is key for a successful standing long jump. Make sure you push off the ground with your legs and swing your arms up and back for maximum power.
- Not Landing As Far Forward As Possible: The goal of a standing long jump is to jump as far as possible. Make sure you land as far forward as you can, and quickly jump back to the starting position.
The Rules for a Standing Long Jump Competition
The rules for a standing long jump competition are quite simple. Each participant is allowed three attempts to jump the furthest distance from a standing position. The winner is the person who jumps the furthest distance.
The competition is usually held on a flat and level surface, such as a track or field. The participants must remain in their starting position until the official signals them to start. When the participant has completed their jump, they must land with both feet together, and the distance is measured from where their toes left the ground to the nearest point of contact with the ground when they landed.
Conclusion
The standing long jump is a great exercise for developing strength, power, and balance. It is a popular event in track and field competitions, and it can also be a great way to build confidence and mental strength.
In this comprehensive guide, we have explored all aspects of the standing long jump: from understanding what it is to performing it correctly and even competing in a standing long jump event. We have also covered tips for improving your standing long jump, the different muscles involved, and training for a standing long jump.
If you want to improve your standing long jump, make sure you practice proper form, increase your leg and core strength, do plyometrics, and increase your flexibility. Avoiding common mistakes, such as not stretching or not generating enough momentum, will also help you to improve your standing long jump.
Now that you know the basics of the standing long jump, you can start practicing and competing in standing long jump events. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start jumping!
Nina Burkovskaya is a senior content writer at Raisetwice since 2020. She has 12 years of yoga experience and 5 years experience of motivational coaching. On a free time loves to read biographies of the famous people and go for a walk with her dog.