Evolution of the High Jump
The high jump is an event that first appeared in the ancient Greek Olympic Games. During the 19th century in Scotland the first high jump event was recorded. During this time the jumpers used a straight on or a scissor kick technique. The high jump is a very unique event. The event has modernized from the 19th century.
The high jump has certain rules an athlete must follow to be able to compete in the event. The different heights are chosen by the official personnel of the event during the meet. However the athlete and or competitor can chose to start at the standard height that the official set, or they can chose to pass to a higher height. Once the bar is raised it does not get lowered for anyone. Anytime an athlete has failed a height, they can chose to pass to the next height, but only if they do not use up all three of their three attempts. Also if they were to leave for another event without letting the official know, the bar would still be raised and they will not lower it and it will be considered as a pass for that height. At each height the jumpers are allowed three consecutive jumps, and if the athlete fails all three then the athlete is eliminated. Athletes are eliminated for knocking the bar off the supports, also known as the standards, and if they break the plain under the crossbar or beyond the standards. The athlete is given 90 seconds for each attempt; if it is not completed in that time it is considered as a failed attempt.
When the high jump first started out, the jumpers used the techniques they used to keep themselves from getting hurt. Back then they didn’t have the safety that we have now a days. Back then the athletes jump over a wooden bar and landed into saw dust. Opposed to the safety regulations today, they now use fiber glass type material for the cross bar and they use very thick padded mats for their landing area. This makes the athletes more confident and secure in doing the best of their ability without worrying about getting injured.
There are five different techniques that have been introduced to the even over the years. The four types of techniques are the Eastern Roll, Scissor Kick, the Western Roll, Straddle Technique, and the Fosbury Flop. Each technique has led each other to improve more and more, and has raised the competition and broke records for athletes of all techniques.
High jumpers first started out using the simplest techniques. And as time evolved they started to improve them. The first technique was the scissor kick. This was when the athlete would jump with his inside leg leading then after he would sit and let his trail leg come over in a scissor motion. Second was the eastern cut-off, this was similar to the scissor kick but instead of sitting up and kicking your legs over in a scissor motion, the athlete would flatten out over the bar. Third we have the western roll. For this technique the athlete would approach the bar at an angle, and use his inside leg to take off with and the outer leg to throw the body up and sideways over the bar. Fourth introduced was the straddle technique, this included the same take off as the western roll, but once the athlete was in the air they would rotate their body with their bellies down and torsos around the bar. The fifth technique invented was the Fosbury flop. This was developed by using the some of the eastern cut-off. This technique was performed by the athlete going over the bar with his head and shoulders first backward. All the techniques use the “J” approach. This curve helps the jumper gain maximum momentum. “mechanics of skating a curve or cornering on a bicycle suggest that a tightening curve outward would help the athlete with controlling their momentum and give them the most out of the approach” ( Journal of Sports science) (776).
During my research I thought it would be a good idea to interview some veteran high jumpers to see what they think about the event and how it has changed over the years and what they think about the differences in techniques and safety. The two veteran jumpers that I have interviewed have experience at the high school and at the collegiate level. Davie A. Clayton 1978 Pennsylvania State Champion also my father was the first veteran that I interviewed. When I asked him what he thought about the high jump now he said “The event has definitely evolved as in the safety factors and the perfection of the different techniques. Safety wise the mats now are definitely safer than they were back in my day, back in my day the mats were smaller so it was more likely if you did the Fosbury Flop then you had a better chance of hitting the ground. Also back in my day I’ve seen more athletes using the scissor kick and it was very rare you saw athletes that were able to use the Fosbury flop to its fullest potential”. The next former jumper that I interviewed was a former decathlete named Brian Spickler, also the former IUP Head track and field coach. He told me that “over the years I have seen athletes come in and use the flop to its fullest potential and do really well with it”. And he also said that “I think the high jump has evolved a lot since I have been in college, it becomes better and better every year”.
They used to jump in saw dust and now they jump on very safe padded mats. Also over time athletes have adapted and created many different ways to achieve their best potential and heights in the event.

Work Cited
Clayton, David Allen. Personal interview. 15 February 2008.
"High Jump." Wikipedia. 27 February 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_jump>.

“High Jump: Teaching the Fosbury Flop.” McEwen, Fletcher, Modern Athlete & Coach

45.4 (October 2007) SPORTDiscus. EBSCO. 27 February. 2008 http://search.ebscohost.com/. “High Jump”. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
27 Feb. 2008 http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-90400401.
Spickler, Brian. Personal interview. 13 February 2008.
Tan, John. “Why do High Jumpers Use a Curved Approach?”
Journal of Sports Science 23. 8 (Agust 2005).