Athletics (British Sports Library)

CHAPTER XV THE LONG JUMP ExPERIENCE has taught me that although long jumping is practised at all our public schools, and at a great many open sports meetings besides, there still prevails a good deal of haziness regarding the requisites appertaining to and the rules governing this event. In the first place, the run-up is unlimited in length. The spring is made from a '' take-off " board. This " board" must consist of a joist of wood sunk flush with the ground. It is 4 feet in length, 8 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, and it should be painted white. The ground beyond the board must not be trenched, or dug out, as was formerly the case, but should be provided with a 4-inch ridge of sand a quarter of an inch in height, to take an impression and so assist the judges in deciding if a competitor has overstepped the take– off board, thereby committing a foul and nullifying his jump. The landing-pit should be of sand, and not of lumpy earth. The sand may be watered, 187