jump height

A measure of the difference between the height of a person and the height he or she can jump. Jump height is usually recorded by the jumper making a mark with chalk-covered fingertips against a board.

Jumping is an anaerobic activity that relies exclusively upon high energy phosphates (mainly ATP) stored within muscles. Jump height, therefore, can be used as an indicator of instantaneous power or elastic strength. In order for the jumps of two or more people to be compared fairly, the type of jump must be standardized. For example, the heights attained if a person bobs down before jumping or drops down from a specific height before jumping are usually higher than if the jump is made from a static squat position (see also Sargent jump test).

A more sophisticated measurement of power can be made using a force platform that records the actual force exerted by a jumper at take off.

A measure of the difference between the standing height of an athlete and the height attained in a jump. For jump heights to be comparable, the type of jump (e.g. counter movement jump, drop jump, or squat jump) must be standardized.