Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE HIGH JUMP We come now to the question of how and what the coach should teach. I think the first thing the coach should do is to test the natural reaction of his athlete by having him run straight over a bar set I 8 ins. to 2 ft . above the ground. If he goes over with one leg leading and the other leg falls into a natural compensatory hanging position the reaction is good, and the boy will probably make ajumper. Next try a few standing jumps off both feet, the athlete landing on both feet with his back to the bar. Repeat the practice, but make him try to turn in the air, so that he will land facing the par he has cleared. Now let him walk a few steps on the turf, hop from his take-off foot, and turn his body by swinging his free leg up behind him. He snould at the same time fling up his arms, press back his head, and hollow his back and land on the foot from which he took off. Repeat the practice over a bar raised 2 ft., and the seeds of the Eastern style will have been well and truly planted. In teaching all four styles, form the athlete's approach run by placing him in front of the crossbar with his take-off foot at the correct angle for the style he is going to use, and have him, keeping his body upright, kick his other foot up to bar-level. When the toes of the foot of the free leg miss hitting the bar by 3 ins., or a trifle more, the foot from which the spring is to be made will be on the proper take-off mark. Mark that spot carefully, turn the athlete abo1:1t, with both feet on the mark, and have him run eight strides along a line at the angle appropriate to the jumping style he is to use. The first four strides should be at one-third speed, and the next four at the speed appropriate to the jumping style he uses. Where his foot falls on completing the eighth stride gives you his starting-mark. Turn him about again, and have him approach at the proper angle and jump, no matter how low may be the height of · the bar. The first four strides of the approach will be at one-third speed, and the next four at the speed appropriate to his jumping style. Note the spot where his foot falls on the completion of the fourth stride as he approaches the bar, as that will give you the check mark from which the speed of his approach run must be increased. The next progressive step in teaching the Eastern style is to raise the bar to a height that the athlete is quite certain to clear. Take up your position directly behind him as he stands at his starting- 355