Jumping Advice From a Teacher

In case you weren't aware, I teach fifth grade. We are holding our annual track meet this week which means we've been trying out and practicing our events for the past month. We do an actual track meet: running events on a marked track, shot put, discus, high jump, and so on.

I am fairly athletic; I can run and hit a ball, but I am not good at anything. It always strikes me rather funny that I coach my team in events that I can't do myself. I mean honestly, I have to take a YouTube tutorial each spring to remind myself about the finer points of each event.

Looking for the base of the jump.

Earlier this week, I was checking in with my long jump kids to see how their practice was coming. Right away, I could see that there were some issues. As I started shouting out instructions, I realized that I was giving my fifth graders a combination dressage/jumping lesson.

Needs to use his hind end to push off from the plank.

As one kid sailed past me, I yelled out run, run, run ... don't slow down. Push off! (His stride was short and choppy - he needed to lengthen his stride.) For another jumper, I hollered, think about pushing off the board rather than running across the board. To a third competitor, I shouted quit adding in a stride. I really wanted to tell him to count his strides so that he'd know from where to begin his run.

Nice knees!

The funny thing was that the kids really did get better with my coaching, and not just at the long jump, but at all the events. While I can't really "do" any of the events that my kids were attempting, I could see their mistakes, and I could offer feedback. 

It got me thinking about riding coaches and trainers. I realized that you don't really have to be a great rider to be a great trainer (although I am sure it helps). The flip side is also very true - great riders don't necessarily make great teachers.

It seems that in track and field as well as jumping and dressage, adding more leg, watching where you're going, and using your hind end well go a long way towards making you successful.

​Go, Sweaney's Stallions!