The Hows & Whys of Vertical Jump Tests

If you have tried out for the school varsity team or have undergone a physical fitness examination, chances are you were made to take part in a vertical jump test. Vertical jump is defined as the ability to elevate an individual’s center of gravity in a vertical plane with the use of his own muscular strength. It is a measure of how you far up you can elevate off the floor from a standstill. Vertical jump tests are used mainly in athletic settings as a method to measure performance. It could also be used among competitors and peers as something to brag about between themselves. Vertical jump tests are usually administered for such sports as basketball, volleyball, football and track and field. However, other sports also measure the jumping ability of their players during physical tests.

The oldest and simplest method by which an individual’s vertical jump may be measured is to have him stand on a flat plane under his feet, against a flat wall. The highest point he can reach up with his hands while his feet is flat on the floor is measured. This measurement is also referred to as the standing reach. The individual is then instructed to attempt a given number of jumps from his standing position, where the highest point he has reached is marked. The distance between his highest jump and his standing reach is measured and the result is then known as the person’s standing vertical jump. This is the most common vertical jump measurement method.

More recently, another more scientifically precise technique has been contrived, which is the pressure pad. A pressure pad is used to measure the duration of time it takes for an individual to finish a jump. Afterwards, with the use of kinematics equation, the vertical jump based on the “hang time” may be calculated. With the use of this method however, an individual can “cheat“ by pulling up his knees so as to extend his hang time.

A more correct and more efficient method is the use of an infrared laser. When a person jumps from standstill and breaches the plane of the laser with his hand, the height wherein this occurred is measured. Another common device makes use of a series of measuring elements vertically arranged and each pivotally mounted. These are more often used at the highest levels of professional and collegiate performance examination. The NFL scouting utilizes this device. It is comprised of at least 70 14-inch prongs vertically separated 0.5 inches apart. Athletes then leap vertically without running start and reach for the highest retractable prong so as to set their highest leaping measure.

The vertical jump is a metric commonly used to test athleticism, particularly in such sports as basketball. It is an important part of SPARQ, a physical test designed to evaluate sport-specific athleticism. A person desiring to achieve higher standing in the sports circle would do well to work on improving his vertical jumping abilities through various programs with the aid of his physical coach or professionals.

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