2004 USATF Rules, Article 3 has the answer.

Post #158,463 by Another Scott 6/4/04 8:59:07 PM Reply	2004 USATF Rules, Article 3 has the answer. [link\|http://www.usatf.org/about/rules/2004/\|Here]. From the Artile 3 .PDF: 3. The measurement of the jumps shall be made at right angles from the take-off line, or the take-off line extended, to the nearest break in the landing area made by any part of the body of the competitor (including shoes and uniform). NOTE: In order to insure correct measurement of any jump, it is essential that the surface of the sand in the landing area should be accurately controlled so as to be level with the top of the take-off board. For measurements, see Rule 148.2(b)i. 4. It shall be counted as a failure or foul if any competitor: (a) with any part of the body, whether running up without jumping or in the act of jumping: i. touches the ground on the runway immediately beyond the take-off line, as evidenced by a mark in the plasticine or other marker material, or ii. touches the ground between the marker material or the take-off line extended and the landing area; or (b) If no plasticine or other marker material is being used, breaks the plane of the take-off line with the foot; or (c) takes off to either side of the take-off board, whether beyond or behind the take-off line extended; or (d) in the course of landing, touches the ground outside the landing area nearer to the take-off line extended than the nearest break in the landing area made by the jumper; or (e) when leaving the landing area, makes first contact with the ground outside the pit closer to the take-off line than the nearest break made in the sand. (f) employs any form of somersaulting prior to contact in the landing area. It looks like 4.f. would exclude landing hands-first. HTH. Cheers, Scott.
Post #158,466 by Silverlock 6/4/04 9:14:29 PM Reply	Depends on definition How do you define "somersaulting" in this particular instance? It seems to me that a hands first landing does not break to the rule of 'somersaulting prior to' landing. The somersault happens after landing. ----------------------------------------- It is much harder to be a liberal than a conservative. Why? Because it is easier to give someone the finger than it is to give them a helping hand. Mike Royko
Post #158,477 by Another Scott 6/4/04 10:25:38 PM Reply	IANATAFJ After I posted that I thought more about it and decided 4.f. didn't really apply. 4.f. is likely designed to prevent Ninjas from stealing the long jump records. Either it's in the rules (somewhere...) or the physics of the jump doesn't lend itself toward a person rotating hands-first before landing. I would think that for maximum distance you would want to have your center of mass as far forward as possible as you approach the landing, and since your legs are more massive than your arms... Like you, I think an Independence Weekend experiment is called for. :-) Cheers, Scott. (Who is not now, and has never been, a track and field judge.)
Post #158,487 by boxley 6/5/04 12:28:10 AM Reply	his pool isnt that big the way to do a jump as described by Silverlock is to jump streched tuck before landing then using the momentum to pivot forward over your hands. Picture a fosbury flop face down. my best high jump was 5 ft 2 inchs, couldnt grok the fosbury. thanx, bill Anchorage AK: House for sale 3 bed 1 bath 1440 sq feet huge lot near Cheney Lake 175K FSBO 813.273.3518 Time for Lord Stanley to get a Tan questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org]
Post #158,793 by drewk 6/7/04 10:59:25 AM Reply	Not ninjas: gymnasts Back handspring before the launch. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #158,471 by boxley 6/4/04 9:46:11 PM Reply	disagree (f) employs any form of somersaulting prior to contact in the landing area. it is not a somersault until a revolution has taken place so since the hands would take first contact and would technically be the start of a somersault not the end it should be legal. thanx, bill Anchorage AK: House for sale 3 bed 1 bath 1440 sq feet huge lot near Cheney Lake 175K FSBO 813.273.3518 Time for Lord Stanley to get a Tan questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org]

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