There is a simple principle in the high jump – whenever the athlete starts wrong, they will ultimately finish wrong.
The high jump starts with the approach. The approach is unique to each individual athlete, with a variety of factors to consider. In the video below JeremyFisher,Head Coach and Lead Instructor at the Chula Vista High Performance Training Center/USA Track and Field. Shows how he teaches the approach
He helps to alleviate the guesswork by establishing guidelines on how to measure the approach and create a radius that will allow each athlete to run smoother and turn effectively. He breakdowns the specifics on how to determine proper start marks and jump marks.
For more information about the DVD that this drill was taken from click the link 20 Drills & Techniques for Teaching the High Jump.
The YouTube video below has sound, so please make sure that your volume is turned up and that you have access to the the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.