One way to easily help your triple jumpers is to teach them to bound correctly. Many deficiencies in your jumpers can be solved by simply working on their bounding technique.
In the video below Travis Geopfert, University of Arkansas Asst. Coach, shows three drills that will help triple jumpers to improve on their bounding. The drills will teach the jumps the proper foot strike and teach them to pull their foot back under their center of mass and get them to drive their hips up and through each phase of the jump.
The clip is a sample from a DVD designed to teach you how to correct the most common errors in the Triple Jump. The DVD contains the following:
1. 110+ simpl triple jump drills that will help develop proper technique and eliminate mistakes
2. Develop proper bounding techniques to carry your speed through the last phase of the jump
3. Learn how you can use short approaches in practice to increase jump reps and reduce injuries
The majority of the drills in this video focus on getting full power out of each step down the runway and how to keep your speed, rhythm and form once you take off. In addition to the approach, Geopfert teaches bounding to help incorporate the arms into the jump, the step and skip phase, and how to put it all together.
For more information of purchasing this DVD click the link Arkansas Track and Field Presents Common Errors and Corrections Triple Jump
The YouTube video below has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site (Some schools block access to YouTube)
If athletes can’t bound, they can’t triple jump. In order to bound properly the athlete must have proper foot contact. To have proper foot contact the athlete should lead with the heel and strike the ground with a flat foot. They should never strike toe first. It is critical that the athlete point their toes up to help avoid this and to insure proper foot strike.
Here are the three drills detailed in the video:
1. Single Leg Hop – concentrate on proper foot contact and quick hands
2. Single Leg Bounds – Cycle the knee and heel while keeping the toe up.
3. Power Skips – Concentrate on pulling the foot back under the center of mass. One of the most common mistakes is to get the foot to far our in front.