Technique 

• Start at the run-up position.
  • Run up length is approx. the athletes age in steps. 
• Body position.
  • Run tall on balls of feet. 
• Action – Run Up.
  • Build up speed – fast steps just before take-off. 
• Action – Take off.
  • When reach board or mat, take off from one foot. 
  • Push through calf, thigh and hip. 
• Action – Flight.
  • Stay tall with “proud chest” and head upright. 
  • Pattern is – Hop then step then jump. 
  • Foot placement is – preferred leg, other, together. 
  • Hop, step, and jump pace and power even. 
  • Hop.
    • Motion forward.
  • Step.
    • Hold opposite knee high.
    • Motion forward.
  • Jump
    • Keep head up (don’t look down towards take off board or pit).
    • Motion up and forward.
    • Brings arms through and forward.
• Action – Land.
  • Land with feet together.
  • Body weight goes forward (over feet).
  • Hands forward.
• Exit forward out of the pit. 

• Use a wider mat with thin layer of sand on top.
  • Place mat closer to the pit. 
  • Measure from where the athlete takes off from on the mat. 
  • Appropriate for athletes with shorter jump lengths. 
• Accept an approximation of the triple jump pattern. 
• Encourage any part of the jump. 
• Offer athlete to do long jump and long jump modifications. 
• Athletes can use a wheelchair by doing wheel pushes in the triple jump pattern.
  • Find a space away from the pit on clear runway or track. 
  • Ensure there is no risk of the wheelchair ending up in the sand pit. 
  • Create a take-off mark e.g. line or cones. 
  • Athlete completes a short approach of 2 to 3 pushes.  
  • When reach mark, athlete completes a series of strong arm pushes.
    • Single arm.
    • Opposite arm.
    • Double arm.
    • Measure from take off mark. 
• Use bright markers for the path to run in and take off areas. 
• For blind and low vision athletes, use a guide athlete. See the sensory page for more information.

Before you start  

• Mark the edges of take-off board or mat with bright plastic markers or similar. 
• Take off board or mat is flush with the ground and pegged in. 
• Damp sand is raked and sufficiently soft to absorb landing impact. 

Safety  

• Runway is flat and clear of objects. 
• No slip hazards on take-off board before each jump. 
• If rakes, forks or shovels are placed on the ground, face prongs downwards. 
• Do not leave them in or beside the landing pit. 
• Rake and level the landing pit after each jump. 

Measuring  

• Spike from the nearest break in the sand to the front of the take off point. 
• When is the jump a foul?
  • Incorrect use of the hop, step and jump sequence. 
  • If the athlete takes off with two feet. 
  • Landing on the runway. 
  • If the athlete touches the ground past the take off board / mat. 
  • If the athlete walks back through the landing area after a completed jump. 

Recording  

• Record the distance to the nearest whole centimetre below the distance measured.