The Importance of Jumping High in Sports
Summary
In this article, we explore the importance of jumping high in sports and how it is measured. Football players have been found to have the highest vertical jump, even higher than basketball players. The standing vertical jump is used in the NFL Combine and by sports scientists because it’s a good measure of explosive power. We also discuss the box jump, a popular exercise that builds on top of a vertical jump by pulling your feet up towards your hip. We look at the standing high jump, an Olympic event a century ago, and how it compares to the box jump. Finally, we discuss the key to a big jump and how to improve your jumping ability.
Table of Contents
- Football players have the highest vertical jump
- The box jump
- The standing high jump
- The key to a big jump
Football players have the highest vertical jump
Jumping high is an important skill in sports, and football players have been found to have the highest vertical jump, even higher than basketball players. The NFL Combine’s top leaper, Gerald Sentebaug, once hit 46 inches, and USC football player Josh Imitorbebe was once measured jumping an inch higher. However, jumping from a standstill to higher than 50 inches is almost impossible. The standing vertical jump is used in the NFL Combine and by sports scientists because it’s a good measure of explosive power.
The box jump
The box jump, popularized by CrossFit workouts, has gone viral on the internet. Evan Unge, who set the Guinness World Record for a standing box jump at 63 and a half inches, trained for a year before he set his record. He trains jumps sporadically but focuses on weight training and squats three times a week. Mentally, he tries not to think of anything when coming up to the box. The box jump looks amazing, but it’s not just pure vertical jumping. It’s a complex move that builds on top of a vertical jump by pulling your feet up towards your hip.
The standing high jump
The standing high jump, similar to box jumping, was an Olympic event a century ago. American Ray Eri was the champion who once cleared a bar at 65 inches. Today’s NFL combine jumper, Unger, out-jumped the writer by almost three feet. Biomechanist Jesus DePin explains that the key to a big jump is to move up as powerfully as possible before leaving the ground. The counter-movement jump involves standing up, relaxing muscles, and pre-tensing them to utilize the full range of motion for upward motion.
The key to a big jump
Unger has bigger muscles, especially quads and glutes, which can generate bigger forces. Joel Smit, a coach, suggests building leg strength to create tension for better jumping ability. From a research standpoint, the vertical jump is associated with performance in various sports. To improve your jumping ability, it is important to focus on weight training and squats three times a week. Mentally, try not to think of anything when coming up to the box, and move up as powerfully as possible before leaving the ground.
