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Training in teams for personal bests in long jump and triple jump

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can work independently for increasing duration within a small team to improve my personal best in long jump and triple jump.

Key learning points

  1. Move: long jumpers should accelerate smoothly to reach maximum speed at the take off board after 12-14 strides.
  2. Move: swinging the arms forward and upward at take off helps to transfer forward momentum and increase distance jumped.
  3. Think: explaining the rules and feeding back to peers on accurate take off from the board allows for changes to be made.
  4. Feel: setting personal targets can help motivate and improve future performance.
  5. Connect: recognising when a personal best has been achieved is more motivating than comparing your scores to others.

Keywords

  • Motivation - staying driven and inspired to keep improving and achieving athletic goals

  • Practise - repeatedly working on skills and techniques with focus and effort to improve performance

  • Approach run - the measured run up that builds speed and sets up for the take off

Common misconception

A common mistake in the triple jump is the athlete collapses the middle 'step phase' rather than getting equal height and distance from every phase.

Emphasis on all phases of the jump should be practised, especially the step phase, with height and efficiency. All phases of the triple jump should contribute to an equal proportion of distance e.g. 2m x2m x2m

Teacher tip

Mulitiple take off boards, set at different distances from the sand, are helpful to ensure jumpers of different abilities can land safely in the sand area. When appropriate, use both male and female WRs with mixed gendered groups to make the challenge more appropriate/realistic.

Equipment

take off board; long jump sand pit; measuring tape; 30+ floor markers; 30+ cones; lesson worksheet

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is the correct effort for middle distance?

hard
Correct answer: sustained
easy

Q2.
What is the first phase of a jump called?

Correct answer: preparation
landing
flight

Q3.
How does aerobic activity generate energy?

without oxygen
with nitrogen
Correct answer: with oxygen

Q4.
What events can you show a personal best in?

just running
jumping and throwing
Correct answer: all events

4 Questions

Q1.
What phase of the triple jump can often collapse?

hop phase
Correct answer: step phase
jump phase

Q2.
What needs to be used to judge a legal jump during the take off phase?

Correct answer: take off board
rake
sand

Q3.
How many strides is optimal for an approach run in the long/triple jump?

2 - 3
7 - 10
Correct answer: 12 - 14

Q4.
What is the World Record (male) for the Triple Jump?

18.59m
Correct answer: 18.29m
18.89m

To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Training in teams for personal bests in long jump and triple jump, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...