Athletics (British Sports Library)

FOR GAMES MASTERS AND COACHES 143 If boys do not learn in practice to throw from the circles or from behind a scratch line, nor the jumpers to hit their take-off accurately, then it cannot be expected of them that they will not foul when the rules compel them to do these things properly in competition. It is a point for athletes and their mentors to remember that the system of digging a small trench in front of the )ong jumper's take-off board has now been done away with. The take-off board is sunk flush with the ground, and over a width of 4 inches in front of the board-that is to say, oh the side nearest to th~ landing-pit-there .is sprinkled soft earth or sand to a height of a quarter of an inch, which enables the judges to immediately detect; any fouling on the part of the athlete by overstepping the outer edge of the take-oft board.