Michael Pullins, assistant track coach at the University of Southern California, uses the “Alternating Step Drill” to train for both the long jump and triple jump. Athletes will improve their ability to create momentum from a standing position as they explode up and forward from one foot at a time.

Alternating Step Drill

Drill Summary: Coach Pullins recommends doing this drill on a softer surface, such as grass, to avoid wear and tear. Begin in a standing position, then push off and jump as far as you can off of every alternating step. Focus on keeping toes up on every leap and also using arms to generate momentum. Do this for about 20-30 yards, then take a quick break and do it again.

This video came from Championship Productions’ video “25 Tips & Drills for Coaching Horizontal Jumps.” View other world class Track & Field videos!