5-Jump eval test

The following video is a simple 5 jump "squat jump" type movement that many coaches prescribe and many athletes perform during workouts.  I have come to like the use of a 4 jump movement on a device called a "just jump" mat to evaluate average vertical jump height and average ground contact time.  Recently I have been lucky enough to have been exposed to the "Myotest" device (which analyzes the same metrics but more accurately) by my assistant Eric Renaghan.  The Myotest has the capability to measure the data of trials ranging from 3 to 20 jumps in a row.  For the sake of my testing protocol, I opted to use the 5 jump format via the Myotest as I've found that is most useful when determing my athletes' athletic ability.

Here are some coaching points to view when using this simple jump test as evaluative tool of elastic ability in the athletes lower body.

1. Varus or Valgus knee movement during eccentric and concentric phases of the jump.

2. Delayed transition between eccentric motion of the jump (landing) and concentric motion of the jump (take off phase).  To the coaches' eye it will look like the athlete is stuck in the mud at take off!!!!

Both the Just Jump and Myotest units are costly, though if you have the budget they are tools that can help the performance coach be very thorough with their evaluation of physical strengths and deficiencies.  If you do not have the ability to buy either of these units, then it is possible to use the above criteria to gain a perspective on the strength qualities of your athletes during the simple lower body power output test, the 5 Jump repeat squat jump.