High Jump

Table of Contents

High Jump Skills (Scissor technique)

Technique

Start at the run up position.
Body position.
- Stand tall.
Action - Run up.
- Run on balls of feet.
- Straight run of 8-10 steps.
- Angle approx. 30 degrees to the bar.
- Last three steps are fast.
Action - Take off.
- Be tall with “proud chest” and head upright.
- Lift knee closest to the bar (inside leg) high to go over the bar.
- Take off from outside foot.
Action – Flight.
- Inside leg swings up and over the bar first, and is quickly brought down to land first.
- Outside leg follows pattern of inside leg.
Action – Land.
- Must attempt to land on feet.
Exit off the back of the mat.

Modification Options

Lower starting height.
Use a flexi bar or no bar.
Use low scissor mats (athletes to land on feet only).
Allow different jumping actions.
- Standing jump (remove need for run up).
- Double leg jump may be easier to coordinate.
Use a ball to approximate the high jump.
- Throw and catch with run up.
  - Athlete runs to mat as per traditional approach.
  - Adult throws a ball.
  - Athlete catches ball to chest and throws underarm over high jump bar at the height the athletes are jumping.
- Throw and catch stationary (remove need for run up).
  - As above from a stationary position in front of the mat.
- Throw only with run up (remove need to catch).
  - Athlete runs to mat holding ball.
  - Athlete throws ball underarm over high jump bar at the height the athletes are jumping.
- Throw only stationary (remove need for catch and run up).
  - As above from a stationary position in front of the mat.
Use bright markers for the path to run in and jump bar.
For blind and low vision athletes, use a guide athlete. See the sensory page for more information.

Before you start 

Runway is flat, dry and clear of objects.
Landing mats and covering mats are secured together.
Correct size Scissor or Flop mat is being used.
The crossbar supports face each other.

Safety 

The flop technique should only be taught by qualified coaches as it is quite hard to master safely. Most kids at Little Athletics think that the flop will get them a higher jump. If it is done correctly this is probably true, however, most young athletes have not mastered this skill yet, and as such will probably get a higher jump using the scissor technique. 
Use a flexi bar for athletes in the early learning stages. 
Instruct athletes to jump over the bar in the middle not near the uprights.  
The take off area is flat, dry and well mowed (if grass).

Measuring 

Taken from the top of the middle of the bar. 
When is the high jump a foul? 
- If an athlete takes off using two feet. 
- If an athlete touches the landing area past the bar without going over the bar. 
- If an athlete knocks the bar off the support.t

Recording 

Results are recorded on a high jump recording sheet. 
- O Indicates an athlete was successful at the height. 
- - Indicates an athlete did not attempt a height or has passed. 
- X Indicates an athlete failed an attempt at the height.  
Three consecutive misses at any height means the athlete is out.

ABN 45 761 248 109

ACN 632 256 181

Coles Little Athletics Australia acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we work, run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.

We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.