Perfecting My Jump

What i learned from the Fosbury-Flop

• Fosbury-Flop is the traditional high jump method used today. It is when an athlete approaches the bar with the "J" shape and jumps over the bar backwards.
• I was having a difficult time with it because there are a lot of small things you have to do to do it right and I had a difficult time putting all the small things together.

What I learned From the Fosbury-Flop Con't

• I leaned that it isn't my lack of jumping skills. The majority of the time I got the height I needed to clear a bar. I know this because my hips were over the bar, and Akron's jumpping coach said if you get your hips over you have the height.
• So we both thought it would be a good idea to switch my high jump method!

My New Method!

• I have decided to try and reach my goal of clearing a high jump bar of 5 feet and 8 inches by using the Dive and Straddle Technique.
• This technique is much more simple and relies manly on jumping skill rather than technique.

What is the Dive and Staddle

• The dive and straddle is exactly what it sounds like, you simply dive over the bar head first bending at the waist avoiding the bar (Depana).
• The dive and straddle can work with me because i can use my speed to dive over the bar, the faster you are with this method the higher you will jump.

Pros of Dive and Straddle

• Much more technically simple than Fosbury-Flop.
• Relies on speed and athletic ability rather than technique.
• The appraoch is easier as well because I run right at the bar rather than counting my steps in a "J" shape
• Not much to it, not as much research

Cons Of Switching

• Only 2 weeks to train for my goal of 5 feet 8 inches
• Jump coach can't give me tips on form because he has never taught it before.

What I Expect

• I expect this not to be as challenging as the Fosbury-Flop because there are few technical parts to it. You simply run at the bar, compress at your knees and hips just like the Flop.
• There is simply less too it and I see myself do better with the Dive and Straddle technique

Resources

• Akron's High Jump Coach
• Jesus Dapena,The Evolution of High Jumping Technique: Biomechanical Analysis. ( 2002). Inidiana University