Drills to develop Spatial Awareness/Ankle Sweep Back [1]

All jumps coaches get frustrated by fouls by their jumpers. Some jumpers can get to the board every time and take-off BUT MANY CAN'T.....

I've been looking at the development of simple runway drills that might help jumpers cut down on their fouling at the board.

This drill involves placing brightly coloured cones on 'top' of the plasticine strip. The colours are bright enough to be seen throughout the length of the approach run.

All the jumpers have to do is to 'sight' the cones without looking down. We experienced a dramatic fall in fouls because the jumper was aware that the cones were there and performed the minor body adjustments to enable an effective take-off earlier in the approach run rather than in the last 3-4 strides to the board. I found that their spatial awareness improved.
We began from 6 strides and gradually moved back until they were using their full approach run distance.

The more we did it the better they became. We used the cones as sighting mechanisms.......

I also found that their touchdowns improved and that the landings became more active because they were physically attempting to 'sweep' back the ankle on the board to stop themselves 'spiking the cone' and taking the cone with them throughout the flight phase which happened a lot in the initial practices.
These drills are 'work in progress'.

Make up your own minds about how effective this simple drill could me.

Try it out and let me know.................

Nigel Lewis
Senior UK Athletics Jumps Coach

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• long jump
• long jumping
• approach runs