A Simple Way to Estimate the Starting Mark for the High Jump Runup

Field Events: Quick Way to Determine the Starting Mark for the High Jump Runup

Dick Moss, Editor

A consistent runup is essential in the flop high jump technique. But how do your beginners determine where they should start their runup?

Here's a quick way to estimate the starting mark for the runup. Veteran high jump coach Sue Humphrey calls it the “Five & 16 method.”

Five and 16 Method
Have your jumpers stand an arm's length away from the near high jump standard. This is their approximate take-off point. They then take five normal walking strides parallel to the bar and away from the pit. Tape that mark. Then have them turn at a right angle and take 16 normal walking strides away from the pit — mark the point where their foot lands on the final stride.

This will give them the approximate starting point for an 8-10 stride runup. As they practice, they can adjust their starting mark from this initial point.

References:
1. Sue Humphrey, Women's High Jump video, Championship Books and Video Productions, 1994.
2. Boo Schexnayder & Latif Thomas, Complete Track and Field Conditioning: The Complete Guide to the Jumping Events [Kindle Edition], Athletes Acceleration, 2012

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