Help me!! I need to improve!! What do you think about my long jump?

Question

ok.. i am a 12 year old girl, in the midget age group for AAU and USATF... my best jump is 14' 3/4" and it was at my last meet... do you think that is good? do you think i will be able to get better at regionals next weekend?? will it be enough to place at regionals?? it's kinda bad because 2 years ago i jumped a 14'1" but i BARELY scratched, and i've been able to jump that good once since then.. i havent improved much since TWO years ago!!! help me!!

Answer 1

At 12 ,14+ is pretty good. At your age, you pretty much have to take what your body gives you. I am not going to try to give you much technical advice, because I have never seen you jump; and it's pretty hard to do in writing anyway.
The MOST important thing for ALL jumping events is to nail your take-off. That means having your steps so you can do them in your sleep. I suggest using a check mark next to the runway as near as the rules allow (check w/ your coach or the AAU rule book). Try to take off with your body straight up (not leaning forward or back) and keep in mind that it is possible to try to use too much speed (especially at your age, because if your quadriceps is not strong enough to handle the force of your take-off, it can cause you to more-or-less crash into the pit).
Unlike lestermount, I recommend a slightly shorter last step; this starts your center of gravity moving in a vertical direction and keeps you from slamming into the board and accidentally slowing your momentum.

Answer 2

Not familiar with the "midget age group/AAU & USATF." However, I do know that 14'+ is a very good distance for a 12 yr. old; and you did over 14' as a 10 or 11 yr. old, that's remarkable.
Good technical advise above me. Once you hit the board, speed + height = distance. It's pretty much a sprinters' event.
So, check your sprint times; have they improved, stayed the same or gotten worse during the past year or so? Also, you're at an age when the body is changing and going through growth spurts , this may have a positive or negative effect on your athletic ability.
You mentioned "but i BARELY scratched", Perhaps you meant, "I BARELY fouled?"
Good luck in the meet net weekend. Hope you do a personal best!

Answer 3

So what are you doing now, that you did not do 2 years ago? You should be jumping farther each year. Think about your technique. Run at 7/8 speed so you can control your body when you convert your horizontal speed to vertical in the jump. As you approach the board do not look down, look beyond the end of the pit. On the last step before the jump let your center of gravity settle down a little. When you plant your jump foot drive the opposite knee and your arm up. Jump up, not out into the pit. Preparing to land bring your arms back behind you, this will cause you to fold in the middle bringing your feet forward, as you settle into the sand land softly and bring your arms back in front of you to keep from falling backward. Long Jump is a technical event, but remembering a few basics will help. Stay under control, you can not run at top speed, settle down on the last step, drive your knee and arm up, prepare to land, and let gravity bring you back to the pit, do not put your feet down so you shorten your jump. Walk forward to the back of the pit. Never look down at the board, look beyond the end of the pit.

Answer 4

When your leaping in a meet, you gotta consciousness, with out suppressing all of your power. earlier than you leap, get relaxed with wherein you're status, seem ahead, and pay attention to wherein your going to land. snapshot your touchdown to your head. The first three steps or so to your run, must be bouncy and light-weight. Show all people your right here to have amusing, exhibit off your smile even (with out watching like a dork). This will aid calm down you and aid you get essentially the most from your power. after the ones three bouncy steps, explode into an entire dash, watching directly forward of you favor you are going to run correct via the board at lightning pace. run for your ft while doing this. Then, to your final steps, consciousness on a place correct at the back of the board. whilst you hit the board, explode once more, elevate your arm up in rythm along with your take off leg and force the opposite knee ahead. elevate your legs out in entrance of you, reasonably bend. Land, each ft and palms in entrance of you, leaning ahead. stroll ahead, no longer again out of the pit. that is an inspiration on the right way to do lengthy leap. however do not get too targeted, cross available in the market to have amusing. upload your possess variety. your leaping in a sand field!

Answer 5

Before you can jump farther...you really need to improve your speed so you can obtain the right amount of velocity.....once you do that i think you will be able to jump much farther

Answer 6

thats pretty good