About Matt Expertise I can answer questions relating to Track and Field in the following areas: sprints, hurdles, jumps, pole vault, drills, training, weight training, nutrition, equipment and coaching. I have a little experience with distance and the throws but very little technical knowledge in these areas. I will do my best to answer your questions.
Experience I competed in high school and college and have been a high school head track coach since 2001. I am USATF Level II certified in the Jumps, USATF Pole Vault safety certified.
Question When my dad was younger he was the best Triple Jumper at his school. He set the school record and everything jumping 40+ feet. I tried to triple jump and I just can't seem to do it. I know I have it in me, but I just can't seem to get the distance. My best jump so far is only like 32.3 feet. I have tried to find some advice and help on what to do but I just can't find anything good. I have asked my dad too and he helps me, but I need some other advice. Also is there any weight training I can do to help make my legs stronger so I can jump farther? Thank you.
Answer Hi Bryan,
Everybody is different, even people in the same family, you may not have the same muscle type or build as your father. That being said it doesnt mean that you will not be able to jump that far, or farther, that is beyond me to determine. I have learned as an athelete and a coach that whatever natural talents we are endowed with, we all have a lot of room for improvement. There are a lot of factors that affect our sucess in athletics, age, maturity, training, technique... I would be happy to give you some advice on training but first I'd need to know how old you are (are you in high school), how long have you been doing triple jump, how often do you practice, what is your experience with weight training, and what is your body type (e.g. tall, short, skinny, muscular...) One piece of advice I can give you right now is don't worry, and try not to get frustrated. Triple jump is a complicated event and practice and performance requires a lot of focus. Being frustrated, and having worries in the back of your head, just takes away from the concentration needed to unlock your potential.
