A wiser and older coach once told me: “The higher the level of competition, the further away the coach is required to be from the field of competition.” As a jumps coach, my ultimate goal is to equip athletes with tools in order to self-correct under any circumstance. When the stakes are highest, I want…
All posts by Reuben Jones
[Video] Teaching Bounding Drills for Triple Jump
Before actual event specific work is accomplished, a period of time is spent developing general work capacities and developing bounding skills for the triple jump. ‘Rudiment hops’ are a valued part of this process and progression. It is here where coaches have an awesome opportunity to teach the “how’s” and “why’s” of the jumping events from their…
Vertical & Horizontal Jumps Drills
So Latif has asked me several times to write a post giving coaches opportunities to improve their jumpers’ technique even when coaching large groups, without a jumps facility or when athletes/coaches are pressed for time. Over the summer, one of our horizontal jumpers competed for her country, Ghana, at the Commonwealth Games and the IAAF…
Set Up Your High Jump Approach
Does anyone know HOW to set up the curved approach??? The modern high jump approach makes the jumper run in a distinctive shape along the track surface toward the pit, akin to the letter “J”. By the end of this, you should know how to set up a base line for all your high jumpers’…
Speed Endurance Workouts For Jumpers & Combo Sprinter/Jumpers
Jumping events are defined as acceleration to an optimal speed, followed by an attempt to maintain the highest level of that velocity through the point of takeoff. Speed Endurance workouts gives jumpers the confidence and capacity to challenge the intensities they use in competitions. But what do speed endurance workouts for jumpers look like? …
Drill Progressions for Jumpers (Early Season)
Early Season Technical Development As much as we like to think the opposite, I assume athletes don’t participate in many organized activities. Most of our track and field athletes are working on their general fitness during the summertime. I looked to my favorite hip-hop artist, Joe Budden, for inspiration. When beginning my annual training plan,…
Good vs Bad Triple Jump
Today, Complete Track & Field Clinic Jumps Leader Reuben Jones shares a video breaking down what ‘bad’ triple jump looks like and what ‘good’ triple jump looks like. He also explains common errors to look for, as well as what quality execution looks like. Plus, he uses a 43’4 female triple jumper as his demo…
3 Phases of the Horizontal Jumps Approach
INTRODUCTION The key to a great jumping performance is consistency. Consistency in the approach begins in the first two to three strides of the approach run-up. The horizontal jumps approach has the same goal as any short sprint race: to accelerate as long as possible and to hold maximum velocity. I plan on talking about…