Athletics (British Sports Library)

THE LONG JUMP 195 be useful, as will rope skipping and a good deal of well-balanced hopping. Again, in this event, as in so many others, the work of gaining technique must at first be divided off into watertight compartments. · The athlete ·must, of course, be able to hold his best speed for a distance of thirty yards or so. The formation of the rtin-up is an all-important matter. This is how it is best accomplished. A sprint path of either cinders or firm turf leads up to the take-of£ board ; if it is of cinders so much the better, for then the history ·Of the athlete's foot-work will be written upon the surface. Measure back from the path-edge of the take-off board a distance of 7 yards and make a mark that can be seen easily. Make a second mark lO yards farther away, that is at 17 yards from the path-edge of the take-of£ board, and yet another mark 27 yards from the take-of£ · board. Face towards the pit and run briskly, but not too fast, · towards the pit. Make sure that the foot from which you spring hits the 27-yard mark and then " cut loose," but have someone standing by to see that your jumping foot hits the 17- and 7-yard marks and finally lands fairly upon the take-off board. If all this happens-but it probably will not-all is well. Should, however, the jumping foot not come