February 2006
Measurement of Jumping Ability
Olson (1987)
stated “A maximal effort standing vertical jump is a common physical
fitness test used to indicate explosive power capability, as opposed
to a test like the 12-minute run, which is used to measure endurance
and cardiovascular fitness.” (p. 36).
In 1921, a valid
measurement tool was developed to measure leg power. Sargent and McCoy
were the founders of this test (Olson, 1987). Subjects jumped as high
as possible toward a cardboard box suspended above their head. A
two-arm swing was used in preparation for the jump. At peak height,
the arms were swung back to the subject’s side. The distance between
standing height and height of the box where the head touched was
called the jump height. Jump height and weight were entered into an
efficiency book to determine subject rating, or power output (Olson,
1987).
A more recent
version of the jump has the athlete stand facing a smooth, dark wall
with both feet flat on the floor and toes touching the wall. Subject’s
reach as high as possible with either hand and mark on the wall with a
piece of chalk or chalk dust. Holding the desired jump position with
the preferred side to the wall, the subject jumps as high as possible
and makes another mark at the peak of the jump. The vertical jump
score is the difference between the two marks (Klavora, 2000).
Abalakov’s test
was developed in 1938. He introduced a practical method to measure
vertical jump with arm movement height using a metric tape attached to
the waist of the subject and the ground (Bosco, 1999).
The Vertec is
another tool in which vertical jump height can be measured. Perrine, a
biomechanical research consultant (human performance and training
specialist) developed and tested the instrument. Constructed with 49
colored plastic swivel vanes arranged in half-inch increments attached
to a telescopic metal pole that can be adjusted to an athletes
standing reach of up to 12 feet (Klavora, 2000). As the athlete jumps
and contacts the target area, the vanes that have been touched move
while the others stay in place. The plastic vanes on the instrument
provide a clear reading of the athletes jump height without the
guesswork of a yardstick (Villareal, 1992). Beal (1988) stated that
“the design of the Vertec allows the athlete to stand underneath the
device. Perrine indicated that by standing underneath the Vertec all
of the momentum can be directed vertically, therefore, no power is
lost in the horizontal plane” (p. 56). The concentration is now better
because the athletes do not have to worry about hitting the wall and
they can concentrate on jumping straight up and achieving their best
performance. The Vertec also aids the athlete because it gives them a
visual cue. Seeing the vanes may help them motivationally to hit the
next vane. Beal (1988) suggested that “the Vertec allows for true
optimal jump testing efforts, and is a quality instrument that has
demonstrated durability in programs all over the country” (p. 57).
Aragon-Vargas (2000), conducted a study evaluating the reliability,
validity, and accuracy of 4 different methods commonly used to measure
vertical jump performance. The study comprised of 52 active men that
each performed 5 maximal vertical jumps. The methods were a criterion
test based on the body center of mass displacement or the vertical
jump performance test, 2 methods based on vertical takeoff velocity as
calculated from the force platform, and 1 method based on time in the
air. The vertical jump performance test involves calculating the exact
position of the body center of mass over time, using cinematography or
video techniques. Aragon-Vargas (2000) stated that “Jump height is
obtained by subtracting the position of the body center of mass when
the participant is standing, from the peak body center of mass during
flight” (p. 216). This method involves mechanically correct concepts
and the equipment is calibrated precisely the vertical jump
performance test is considered the standard method to evaluate
vertical jump. The researcher showed that the validity coefficient was
r = .95 and the reliability coefficient was r = .97. The other three
methods showed similar results but with poor accuracy. The vertical
jump test is the most accurate, reliable, and valid test
(Argon-Vargas, 2000).
