A review: High Jump from A-Z

"High Jump from A-Z" by Todd Lane is filled with a plethora of outstanding information on the high jump from a training and technical standpoint.  I am adding this article to a binder as it will be a valuable asset for me in the future.  The following are the general points I hope to retain:

• When creating any training plan coaches should first evaluate competition demands for the event
• Static lifts increase force, Olympic Lifts increase power, both should be developed together in a balanced manner
• Static Strength and Plyometric Training (elastic training) should be "inversely proportional to the intensity and/or volume of each"
• Everything in training needs to vary or strength and power gains will not be made.  Variation in reps, exercises and even variation within an exercise is important (clean from floor, below knee, above knee or deep squat, quarter squat, one leg squat).  Coaches need to shock the body with something different (especially in a new Mesocycle).  

The following are interesting high jump specific points I hope to retain:

• Static squats should be taken out during competition season because of severe negative effects on elastic abilities
• Acceleration phase (first 3 steps) needs acceleration training, as maximum velocity phase (last 5 steps) needs maximum velocity training
• Common Technical Errors: athlete bends a waist to create lean,  take-off foot parallel to bar, turn shoulders to early at take-off
• Take-off foot should point between far back corner of pit and far front corner of pit

-John Egan

Techniques: August 2010

High Jump from A-Z

By Todd Lane