Editing Long jump (section)

===Action in the air and landing===
[[File:Carlos Chinin decathlon.jpg|thumbnail|upright=1.25|A [[decathlon|decathlete]] landing a jump close to the 8-metre mark]]

There are three major flight techniques for the long jump: the hang, the hitch-kick, and the sail. Each technique is to combat the forward rotation experienced from take-off but is basically down to preference from the athlete. Once the body is airborne, there is nothing that the athlete can do to change the direction they are traveling and consequently where they are going to land in the pit. However, certain techniques influence an athlete's landing, which can affect the distance measured. For example, if an athlete lands feet first but falls back because they are not correctly balanced, a lower distance will be measured.

====Hang====

Following the pivotal takeoff phase, the jumper executes a deliberate maneuver wherein the free leg descends until it aligns directly beneath the hips. This strategic positioning, characterized by an elongated and streamlined body silhouette, is meticulously crafted to minimize rotational forces. By maximizing the distance between both the arm and leg extremities and the hips—the theoretical center of mass—the rotational inertia is significantly increased. Leveraging the principle that longer levers rotate at a slower pace than shorter ones, this configuration facilitates a controlled and stable aerial trajectory.

As the free leg descends to meet the takeoff leg, forming an angle of 180° relative to the ground, a symmetrical alignment is achieved with both knees positioned directly beneath the hips. This alignment marks the apex of stability during the airborne phase, as minimal rotational tendencies are manifested. This aerodynamically advantageous posture, colloquially termed the "180° position", epitomizes the pinnacle of equilibrium, affording the jumper enhanced control and poise amidst the dynamic forces encountered in flight.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Four Phases of the Long Jump: Approach, Takeoff, Flight, & Landing|url=https://www.ncacoach.org/uploads/Goodwin-GI.pdf|publisher=Grand Island Senior High|last=Goodwin|first=Justin|access-date=29 April 2024}}</ref>

====Hitch-kick====

In the realm of athletic performance, particularly in the domain of jumping techniques, a prevalent strategy observed among practitioners involves the utilization of a single-step arm and leg cycle. This technique, ingrained within the repertoire of many athletes, serves a fundamental purpose: to mitigate and alleviate the forward rotation momentum experienced during the jump. Characterized by a deliberate and synchronized motion of the arms and legs, this cycling maneuver is strategically devised to offset the rotational forces generated at the moment of takeoff.

Central to the efficacy of this technique is its capacity to orchestrate secondary [[Rotation|rotations]] of both the upper and lower extremities, thereby fostering a mechanical equilibrium that counterbalances the initial rotational impulses triggered upon liftoff. By implementing this methodological approach, athletes can harness the principles of [[biomechanics]] to optimize their jumping performance, enhancing stability, control, and overall efficiency in their aerial endeavors.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jasminan |first1=V. |last2=Chandana |first2=A.W.S. |date=2021 |title=Two dimensional analysis of changes in athlete's center of mass during the long jump flight phase |journal=International Journal of Research in Engineering and Innovation |volume=05 |issue=3 |pages=154–158 |doi=10.36037/ijrei.2021.5304 |issn=2456-6934|doi-access=free }}</ref> This nuanced understanding underscores the intricate interplay between physics and human [[Kinetics (physics)|kinetics]], illuminating the sophisticated strategies employed by athletes to excel in their athletic pursuits.

====Sail====

The "sail technique" represents a fundamental long jump approach widely employed by athletes in competitive settings. Following the culmination of the takeoff phase, practitioners swiftly elevate their legs into a configuration aimed at touching the toes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Long Jump Technique and Training|url=https://www.everythingtrackandfield.com/long-jump-technique-and-training|website=everythingtrackandfield.com|last=Giroux|first=Jim|access-date=29 April 2024}}</ref> This maneuver serves as an entry-level strategy particularly beneficial for novice jumpers, facilitating an early transition into the landing posture. However, despite its utility in expediting the landing process, this technique fails to mitigate the inherent forward rotational [[momentum]] of the body effectively. Consequently, while advantageous for its simplicity and expedited landing preparation, the sail technique lacks the requisite mechanisms to adequately counteract excessive forward rotation, posing a notable limitation to its effectiveness in optimizing jump performance.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bouchouras |first1=Georgios |last2=Moscha |first2=Dimitra |last3=Papaiakovou |first3=Georgios |last4=Nikodelis |first4=Thomas |last5=Kollias |first5=Iraklis |date=January 2009 |title=Angular momentum and landing efficiency in the long jump |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1080/17461390802594243 |journal=European Journal of Sport Science |language=en |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=53–59 |doi=10.1080/17461390802594243 |issn=1746-1391}}</ref>

====Somersault====

In the 1970s, some jumpers used a forward somersault, including [[Tuariki Delamere]] who used it at the 1974 [[NCAA]] Championships, and who matched the jump of the then Olympic champion [[Randy Williams]]. The somersault jump has potential to produce longer jumps than other techniques because in the flip, no power is lost countering forward momentum, and it reduces wind resistance in the air.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Flip That Led To A Flap |last=Reid |first=Ron |date=29 July 1974 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1974/07/29/616167/the-flip-that-led-to-a-flap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203190409/http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088829/index.htm |archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref> The front flip jump was subsequently banned for fear that it was unsafe.