Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

THE STANDING LONG-JUMP 77 equal to more than half the total weight of the body itself. It will be seen that at the moment of taking off the whole body has straightened violently out from the knees, so that a straight line can be drawn through the body from the crown of the head to the heels, and that the feet are absolutely at right angles to the body. If the jumper did not carry on the movement, he would fall flat on his face in the pit. The final impulse is given by pushing off strongly with the soles of the feet and getting a final flick . away from the take-off board with the toes themselves; it will be observed that the angle between the feet and the shin-bone is thus made greater. Immediately it is felt that the feet have left the board, the heels are swung up behind the body (sketch 4); next the head is raised, the shoulders lifted (5), and the chest thrown forward and the knees drawn up under the body (6). The highest point in the rise has now been reached, and as the knees come up to the front the arms are flung back (7). It is at this stage of the jump,when the legs are drawn through to the front, that the abdominal muscles do the greatest part of their work. The stronger 4 7 6