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Introduction

The vertical jump is a common and universally used movement. Ability to jump

high, quickly and explosively is an essential skill within most sports. Whether it is

jumping while playing volleyball, basketball, or dance, our muscles are working to exert

the proper forces of energy to ensure correct body mechanics. However, muscular

contraction is the same within every individual’s bodies, which creates the curiosity of

the differences between a good and poor jumper, and how proper mechanics can be a

contributing determinate. “Understanding the biomechanics of jumping is therefore a

prerequisite for designing effective training programs which minimize the risk of overuse

injuries that may result from excessive jumping, and the repetitive mechanical loading of

muscles and joints that is involved in jump training” (Reeser & Bahr, 2002). Hence, this

experiment will analyze the differences between skilled and unskilled jumpers.

Furthermore, we will be able to understand how muscle strength and proper mechanics

both contribute to a skilled jump.

The countermovement vertical jump is an explosive, concentrated movement

requiring a large amount of coordination. The object of the vertical jump is to get up in

the air by exerting as much force against the earth’s surface to gain a greater reaction

from the earth (Carr, 2004).

The countermovement vertical jump is a non-repetitive skill that does not always

have a discrete beginning point due to environmental conditions; however, it does always

have a discrete end point. For example, during a volleyball game the blocker has to

position himself in relation to the opposing hitter, and...