Coach ,

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) produces some of the most explosive athletes in track and field every year. The conference had winners in the men’s and women’s long jump, women’s triple jump, and women’s high jump. Taking 4 of 6 jumping events at last week's outdoor national championships in Eugene, OR. 

Jasmine Moore of the University of Florida was the first athlete to ever win every conference and national championship in the long jump and triple jump in the same year. Florida Coach Nic Petersen takes us through the performance markers and assessments that he uses with his athletes to examine elite track and field performance ability. 

Link: Elite Track and Field Performances

Elastic strength is the ability of tissues to absorb, store, and release energy. This is imperative to building elite explosive power. Preparing the body positions by teaching and cueing them is key according to Coach Todd Lane of Louisiana State University. It wasn’t too long ago that LSU developed JuVaughn Harrison into a 6x national champion in the high and long jump. 

Link: Goal in Training 

Plyometrics are like glue that holds everything together for jumpers. Nic Petersen uses plyometrics to connect his athletes acceleration and max-velocity training. He outlines the parameters that he considers in progression for his plyometric training. 

Link: Plyometrics

Errors will be common in planning and developing elite explosive power. Very few have got it perfect in their plan in history. The best thing coaches can do is examine the mistakes of the past. Todd Lane examines 4 common errors when training jumpers.

Link: Common Errors 

While the SEC might be the most dominant league in recent years. If you’ve paid attention to the results you’ll notice a couple other schools near the top with champions and all-americans in the recent events. Coach James Thomas of Texas Tech coached two women in the top 3 finishers in the triple jump and Coach Shawn Jackson of Texas Christian University coached the collegiate men’s triple jump champion. You can see more from these two phenomenal coaches below!

Always be growing,

Coach Rathke and the T&F Community of Coaches helping Coaches

Source: James Thomas - Horizontal Jumps

Source: James Thomas - Addressing Rhythmic Concerns in the Horizontal Jumps

Source: Shawn Jackson- Unconventional Principles in the Long & Triple Jump