Why The Broad Jump:
The broad jump (also referred to as the standing long jump), is a popular and easy way to test explosive leg power. This is a fitness test that is used in a wide-range of events, most notably the NFL Combine. It is a simple and quick to perform test while requiring almost no equipment.
The purpose of the broad jump is to measure the explosive power of ones legs. The further an athlete can jump, the more explosion he or she has. While the jump seems easy to perform, this is not an easy exercise since an athlete must jump from a still and standing position. This means before the jump, there is no forward momentum other than the momentum your leg muscles can produce before the action.
If you are looking to show the power of your lower-body strength and explosiveness, then it is crucial to perform all steps of the exercise correctly. Coach Joe recently demonstrated to us how to get the best results and increase the distance of your broad jump. Check out the video below.
The Proper Steps:
The first step in doing the broad jump is to have your feet shoulder width apart while putting your arms up in the air with the balance coming from the balls of your feet. Next, the athlete will swing his or her arms back as far as you can. With the momentum being driven up, it is important to swing forward with emphasis on the arm drive to produce more power.
The Landing:
After the jump, the other important part of the broad jump is the landing. The athlete will use balance and precision to stick the landing. Any wobble movement or stumbling would lead to an invalid jump. Having a strong lower body will help in aiding in that landing.
Improve Your Testing:
At Parisi Sparta, we evaluate all athletes prior to their training with us. By doing so, we are able to see the current athlete’s abilities and what needs to be improved. We are proud to see all of our athletes see improvement in their numbers.
Just recently, our ‘Athlete Of The Month’ went to Matthew Sportelli, who is in our Jump Start program. Matt plays lacrosse and basketball and was looking to improve his speed. When we initially tested Matt, his numbers were:
June 17th
No matter what test it be, whether the broad jump or the 40-yard dash, we will help you improve the numbers you want to see.