Sports Coach Logo Sports Coach Training Principles Fitness Components

            topics

Jumps Decathlon

The ten events

The Jumps Decathlon (Arnold 1987)[1] is easy to carry out and is an excellent way to test an athlete's elastic strength. The Jumps Decathlon comprises the following ten events:

  • Standing long jump
  • Standing Triple jump
  • 2 hops, step and jump
  • 2 hops, 2 steps and jump
  • 2 hops, 2 steps and 2 jumps
  • 5 spring jumps (Bunny hops)
  • Standing 4 hops and jump
  • Running 4 hops and jump
  • 25 metre hop for time
  • 5 stride long jump

Required Resources

  • Assistant
  • Stopwatch
  • Measuring tape 30m
  • Cones
  • Sandpit

How to conduct the test

Each event allows two or three successful attempts to record the best distance/time.

Standing Long Jump

  • The athlete warms up for 10 minutes
  • The athlete places their feet over the edge of the sandpit, crouches down, leans forward, swings their arms backwards, then swings the arms forward and, pushing off with the legs, jumps horizontally as far as possible into the sandpit.
  • The assistant measures and records the distance from the edge of the sandpit to the nearest point of contact the athlete made in the sandpit

Standing triple jump

  • The athlete performs a standing triple jump starting with the take-off foot in full contact with the ground. The other leg is swung to provide the initial forward momentum, and completes the jump landing with the feet together
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved

2 hops, step and jump

  • The athlete performs 2 hops, 1 step and a jump starting with the take-off foot in full contact with the ground. The other leg is swung to provide the initial forward momentum and completes the jump landing with the feet together
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved

2 hops, 2 steps and jump

  • The athlete performs 2 hops, 2 steps and a jump starting with the take-off foot in full contact with the ground. The other leg is swung to provide the initial forward momentum and completes the jump landing with the feet together
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved

2 hops, 2 steps and 2 jumps

  • The athlete performs 2 hops, 2 steps and 2 jumps starting with the take-off foot in full contact with the ground. The other leg is swung to provide the initial forward momentum and completes each jump, landing with the feet together. The second jump is a two-footed take-off
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved

5 spring jumps (Bunny hops)

  • The athlete performs 5 successive two-footed bounds (bunny hops) with the feet kept together in a continuous movement
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved

Standing 4 hops and a jump

  • The athlete performs 4 hops (right leg) and a jump, starting with the take-off foot in full contact with the ground. The other leg is swung to provide the initial forward momentum and completes the jump landing with the feet together
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved
  • The athlete repeats the test by executing the hops with the left leg
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved
  • The assistant calculates and records the average of the two recorded distances

Running 4 hops and jump

  • The athlete performs 4 hops (right leg) and a jump starting with an unlimited run-up and completes the jump landing with the feet together
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved
  • The athlete repeats the test by by executing the hops with the left leg
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved
  • The assistant calculates and records the average of the two recorded distances

25-metre hop

  • The assistant marks out a 25-metre section
  • The assistant gives the command "GO" and starts the stopwatch
  • The athlete, from a standing start, hops on the right leg over the 25-metre section as fast as possible
  • The assistant stops the stopwatch when the athlete completes the 25-metre section and records the time
  • The athlete repeats the test by executing the hops with the left leg
  • The assistant calculates and records the average of the two recorded times

5 stride long jump

  • The athlete performs a long jump off five strides into the sandpit - long jump rules apply
  • The assistant measures and records the distance achieved

Assessment

Enter the results and then select the 'Calculate' button.

Standing Long Jump metres points
Standing Triple jump metres points
2 hops, step and jump metres points
2 hops, 2 steps and jump metres points
2 hops, 2 steps and 2 jumps metres points
5 spring jumps metres points
Standing 4 hops and jump metres points
Running 4 hops and jump metres points
25-metre hop seconds points
5 stride long jump metres points
Total points

The points allocated by this calculator do not match precisely with the printed Jumps Decathlon tables (Arnold 1987)[1]. A copy of these tables, in Adobe PDF format, is available via this link.

Analysis

Analysis of the test result compares it with the athlete's previous results for this test. It is expected that the study would indicate an improvement in the athlete's leg power with appropriate training between each test.

Target Group

This test is suitable for jumpers (e.g. long jump, high jump) but not for individuals where the test would be contraindicated.

Reliability

Test reliability refers to how a test is consistent and stable in measuring what it is intended to measure. Reliability will depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual's level of motivation to perform the test. The following link provides various factors influencing the results and test reliability.

Validity

Test validity refers to the degree to which the test measures what it claims to measure and the extent to which inferences, conclusions, and decisions based on test scores are appropriate and meaningful. This test provides a means to monitor training on the athlete's physical development. There are published tables to relate results to potential performance in competition.

Advantages

  • Minimal equipment required
  • Simple to set up and conduct
  • The athlete can administer the test

Disadvantages

  • Specific facilities required
  • Assistant required to administer the test

Free Calculator

References

  1. ARNOLD, M. (1987) Long Jump. 4th ed. London: BAAB. p. 46-47

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

  • MACKENZIE, B. (2001) Jumps Decathlon [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/jumpsdec.htm [Accessed