Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

T-HE STANDING JUMPS From this point the right leg is allowed to drop on the far side of the bar, the trunk of the body is straightened out, the arms are again flung up, and, just as the right leg begins to descend, the left (take- • off) leg is kicked high up and swung over and down upon the far side. To the spectator watching the jump it would of course be impossible to detect these details from the _whole rapid movement; also it sounds incredible that the evolutions are carried out in this way; but at the same time it shows the great value of the cinematograph and the camera in the study of athletics. It is to be noted that in the second case it has, for the purpose of description, been assumed that the jumper stands with his right side to the bar. In both cases the athlete gets a good deep breath just as the arms are swung up. There are a few points which it will be well for the jumper to bear in mind. It is the powerful way in which the legs are swung up which generates the impulse which lifts the body over the bar, and it is the arm-swing, combined with the -thrust of the legs, which gives the initial movement for the take-off. In taking off, the athlete must remember not to lean inwards towards the bar, but to get a good clean spring straight upwards, and then he must learn to work the body sideways across the bar in mid-air. Throughout the jump the athlete should watch the far end of the cross-bar to keep his head in the right position; his mirid of course must be concentrated on the details of the jump. In training it is advisable to jump only at such heights as one can be absolutely sure of clearing.