Estimation of jumping distance using run-up velocity for male long jumpers

Background and Study Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between run-up velocity and jumping distance, and create a jumping distance estimation model that trainers may use practically for athletes at broad performance level. In a long jump, about ninety percent of the jumping distance is the athlete’s flying distance, and horizontal velocity, which has the highest effect on flying distance among biomechanical factors, is highly important in long jumps. Therefore, especially the velocity of the athlete in the last ten meters of run-up is considered to be the most important determinant of performance.Material and Methods: The research data was composed of 328 valid trials on 73 Turkish male long jumpers who were 18.7 (±2.8) years old. As a result of the correlation statistics obtained in this study, a linear regression model was formed between last-ten-meter running velocity and jumping distance, which was observed to have the highest correlation.Results: It was observed that the velocity for run-up in the last ten meters explained 76% of jumping distance. Based on the estimating equation, it may be stated that 0.1 m/s of increase in run-up velocity for male long jumpers will increase their jumping distance by 10.7 cm.Conclusions: It was observed that especially the velocity in the last 10 meters of run-up was one of the most significant predictors of performance, and the estimation model established using the value of run-up velocity, which had the strongest relationship, was able to make high-accuracy estimations for both low and high values.Keywords: long jump, velocity, estimation model.