Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES The question as to which foot the athlete should use for the hop and the step take-offs has been the subject of much controversy among coaches for a great many years. Should he use his usual, and probably better, leg to take off twice (hop and step), or reserve it for the final jump take-off, thus using it but once in each com– plete hop, step, and jump trial? My own feeling is that if a man is accustomed to take off from the right foot for an ordinary broad jump, then he will do well to make the take-off for the hop and the step from his right foot. After all, according to the Japanese theory, which has pro– duced the best results, the hop is only li- less in value than the jump. One is more likely to get a well-balanced hop-step pattern by using one's better leg, and, moreover, if the hop and the step are well balanced and of proportionate length there is far more likelihood of the athlete's producing the desired jumping distance. This opinion is neither expressed nor meant to be taken as final. Experiments must be made, and may well prove, where the individual athlete is concerned, that the opposite procedure is the more suitable to him personally. For the purpose of description let us assume that the athlete to be coached will hop from the left foot and land on the left foot (the hop), spring from the left foot and land on the right foot (the step), and spring from the right foot and cofuplete the final landing on both feet (the jump). First let him work on soft turf on which a starting-line is marked. Place three marks at right angles to the starting-line, the measurements from the starting-line to the marks being 5 ft., 8! ft., and r3t ft. (5:3t:s)=r3t ft. total distance from the starting-line to the farthest mark. Place the athlete with his feet together, toes just touching the starting-line, and tell him he is to make three jumps in succession without pausing, landing with both feet together on each of the three marks in turn. After a few trials take up the old marks and repeat the practice with the marks placed at 7!ft., r2!ft., and 20!- ft. (7t:si:7t)=2o!-ft. total distance from starting-line to farthest mark. When the athlete can hit the three marks regularly, landing with both feet on each mark, let him try a standing hop, step, and jump. He should hop to the first mark with his left foot, spring from his left foot to his right on to the second mark, and then' from his right foot, landing with both feet on the third mark. Replace 378