Three-Dimensional Kinematics during the Take-Off Phase in Competitive Long Jumping

The purpose of the present study was to identify the relationships among selected kinematic variables that affect the take-off phase and performance in elite jumpers. The jump distance was found to be related to: I) the athlete's approach speed before the instant of touch down; and ii) the exchange in spatial velocity components at take-off, which results in a gain in maximum vertical velocity of the centre of mass (CM), favoured by the use of an optimum touch-down angle of the take-off leg, an active landing of the foot at touch-down, and a motion of the take-off leg during the compression phase that helps to manage the loss of horizontal velocity. Nonetheless, the results show that an ad…