Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES have got good results by swinging the right leg up fully straightened with a very strong kick. It is a mistake, however, to throw the right leg too high, as this action tends to 'anchor' the jumper's left foot to the ground in the take-off. Other jumpers in this style take off with plenty of right-knee lift, and the leg is straightened only as the right leg rises above bar-level. The arms are thrown up to aid the lift and maintain balance. The body must be upright and fully; extended, witl-r the centre of gravity over the left foot as that foot leaves the ground. The left arm goes up first. The action of the left leg should not be too long delayed, or there will be trouble in putting power into its swing. The swing of the left leg is towards the left jumping standard (as one looks at the standards from the direction of approach) (Plate XLI, Figs. 123 and 125), with the trunk inclined to the left and bent well forward over the left thigh. As the right leg crosses the bar it is snapped down and back, and simultaneously the left leg is snapped above the bar, to which it becomes parallel (Plate XLI, Figs. 123-126). Without any pause the left leg is cut through and back very quickly, so that the jumper appears to pivot over the bar on the axis of the left hip. This action produces a half-turn, and draws the left hip away from the bar. The hip-lift is aided by the backward and down– ward sweep of the left arm. To complete the jump the right leg swings back and up, with the heel behind the buttock, while the Left foot drops towards the pit to catch the jumper as he lands. THE WESTERN ROLL STYLE In the Western style the jumper approaches the jump at an angle of about 45°, and usually finds his take-off mark 3 ft. to 3 ft. 4 ins. in front of the bar. He must gather himself on the last three strides preparatory to putting all the concentrated power . he can muster into his take-off. He does not increase speed in the last three strides, but the last stride is lengthened a little, and the explosive take-off effect is produced by a flat-foot take– off and a particularly vigorous upward and forward right-leg swing, in which the leg is raised just a little flexed at the knee, or the right knee is driven up and the leg extended fully in a line with the bar as the lay-out is effected. 352