Long Jump Testing Methods And Performance Analysis
Nowadays a lot of consideration has come to the surface for physical condition not specified on general healthiness but also on the precise requirements for competitive sports. Physical condition is related with sports performance and accomplishments. For this reason the higher level of condition the better capability of person to achieve the top level of performance.
Long jump is a sport with the combination of high horizontal velocity approach on the board, the vertical velocity that the athlete obtains during the takeoff phase and the technique methods such as the right posture of the center of mass on the board, and finally the last-but-one, last stride before the takeoff. All kinematic variables could give the high performance result in a competition. This sport is based on different variables such as horizontal velocity during the runway, which is highly important wherefore accomplishing high velocity during the run-up, and executing this horizontal speed on the board can induce high performance result. Additionally, another variable can be the takeoff phase, which is a combination of high horizontal velocity as well as the higher degree angle that an athlete can achieve to accomplish the optimal vertical takeoff speed, which is followed by a high result. According to literature, having high takeoff angle athletes have to accomplish a slower run-up velocity in order to find equilibrium between the vertical and horizontal takeoff speed. Different measurements take place on the field such as, high velocity takeoff approach and step length during the run-up combined with the variable of speed in the long jump runway. These three variables will be measured with high- speed video camera by inserting black markers in the entire body of athletes including knees, ankles, arms, and hips. This will attribute in analyzing precisely the movements on take-off angle, step length of each stride, and velocity during running approach. In addition, it will force platforms for measuring the ground reaction forces during the takeoff. The above variables can be classified important for the high performance of long jump called key performance indicators.
According to Bridgett and Linthorne (2006) speed is a highly important indicator in which the highest velocity an athlete gain when approaching the board, the highest the results that he/she could succeed on the long jump. Speed variable contains the step length in long jump and it holds a key role in accomplishing the highest velocity on the track during the preparation approaching the board in order to succeed a sufficient takeoff. Eventually a high performance result is being accomplished. Furthermore, a second indicator is the step length, as the correct stride that athletes can get in a run-up is an indication that a biomechanical technique is correct when approaching the board. All in all, it can attribute in the accomplishment of the correct foot placement on the board. Therefore, a quantitative research will be conducted on the upgrading long jump performance. Based on that, two key performance indicators will be further examined in this research.
Method
In this chapter, the method that was used to conduct this research will be further explained. The target population of this study is elite national long jump athletes. Eight in total elite athletes (4 males / 4 females) participated in this study based on some characteristics. The selection of the characteristics included the age with a range of 22.5+/- 2.5 years, the height 1.82 +/- 0.05, 1.65 +/- 0.03 and body mass 72.5 +/- 2.5 kg, 52.5 +/- 2.5for males and females respectively. All participants were healthy without any of injuries or a background of serious injury and with training experience at least 6 years.
It is vital important to use reliable test methods to evaluate this variables (KPI).
Nallarasu and Mahadevan (2012) have mentioned that speed and step length variable will be tested with full approach run-up jumps and measurements will be accomplished to lowest and highest performance. The methods are valid for measuring these two variables (KPI) because conditions and procedures are precisely similar as in the competition and the workout sessions that athlete’s accomplish. With this way athletes can simulate the test trial like competing in a world championship.
Simple correlation statistical analysis has been used. According to statistics: Athletes tested in three types of approaching run-up speed. The first one is to accomplish the first five meters (best mean-lowest mean: 1.49s). Second type of measurement where, to accomplish the second five meters (best mean 1.34s, lowest mean 1.39s). And the third measurement was for the last five meters (best mean 1.41s, lowest mean 1.43s). Stride length also tested in three types. First three strides (best mean 4.33m, lowest mean 4.52m), penultimate strides (best mean 2.15m, lowest mean 1.90m) and last strides (best mean 2.19m, lowest mean 2.25m). Results indicate that long jump performance correlated with the run approach distance (Best mean performance 6.29m, lowest mean performance 6.09m). Explicitly penultimate stride and the five meters middle run approach shows highly relation with the long jump performance (middle 5mts, best performance r=-0.322, lowest performance r=0.51 and penultimate stride, best performance r=0.700, lowest performance r=0.663).
Summarizing, advantages from this statistical method, the run approach and the step length shows important correlation for a high performance result in long jump, but on the other hand disadvantages shows that there is no significant correlation on other variables except the penultimate stride and the middle five meters run approach. Finally the specific research reveals that speed approach and step length are reliable Key performance indicators while this variables are vital important for enhancing the performance in long jump.
