When we do scissors jumps its always 3-step on a straight line (I
notice I never mentioned the number of steps before). Again, as I've
tried to clarify, we only do a few (maybe 5) scissors jumps and only
3-step and a fairly low height, but making it somewhat challenging.
Once we've done the 5 scissor jumps we raise the bar (or string)
slightly and continue on with the workout, going to 3-step flops
(straight line), then 5-step flops (all five steps on the curve) and
full approaches. Some days we so the scissors and then start jumping
full right away so they are fresh for the fulls and we work our way
back down. I use each individual drill to isolate different mechanical
aspects of the jump (I usually start a workout doing box jumps to work
on technique over the bar without worrying about jumping).

The other thing to mention is that none of this is done until they've
done a full dynamic stretching series that includes form running, some
sprints and then each jumper has a few static stretches they like to do...

Monty Forthun


--- In highjump@yahoogroups.com, "~~~~ Stone" <gstone@...> wrote:
>
> In my opinion, the big problem with scissors jumping in warm-up is not
> jumping with this style in itself, it is with the use of a curved
> approach when scissoring. Scissors is a style that uses a straight
> approach with the jumper landing on his/her feet in the pit. Flop
> style jumping requires a curved approach with the jumper landing
> up-side-down in the pit.
>
> If you try to do scissors jumps from a curved approach, you will have
> to come out of the curve and run the last stride of your approach in a
> straight line with your body oriented vertically, and then jump to
> land on your feet. This will be teaching you to abandon the curve and
> run the last stride of your approach in a straight line - rather than
> staying in the curve till you get your takeoff foot on the ground as
> you must do for the flop.
>
> If you are going to practice scissors (which I don't object to) you
> should do it from a straight approach and not from a curved approach
> with a straight last stride. Doing it from a curved approach will just
> foul up your approach for the flop takeoff.
>
> Glen Stone
>
>
>
> --- In highjump@yahoogroups.com, "LaMonte Forthun" <lamontef@> wrote:
> >
> > I respectfully have to disagree with your points unless a jumper is
> > spending half their workout doing scissors jumps. I'm talking about
> > doing maybe 5 or so scissors at the beginning of whatever jumping
> > workout we might be doing, which don't think is enough to promote bad
> > habits such as not getting hips up or causing slow rotation. If that
> > were the case I wouldn't want my jumpers playing basketball since
> > doing layups would cause a lot more problems.
> >
> > Although, I would say that at a certain skill level it's not as
> > important a drill to do since I don't have to worry as much about them
> > jumping up as I did when they were first learning. I still like it at
> > the beginning of certain jump workouts (not all) for the jumpers to
> > get the feel of jumping straight up. Even experience jumpers tend to
> > lean in at take off at times, since they ultimately need to get into
> > the pit.
> >
> > Monty Forthun
> >
>