Building a long jump pit is a critical step in training for long-jump competitions. Not only does it require extensive groundworks, but it can lead to other problems such as uneven surfaces. Ideally, the long jump pit should be leveled first to prevent any future surface problems. The groundwork that takes place in the long jump pit must be flat and compact to create a solid sub-base floor. During construction, a team of specialists should take care of this step.
Generally, the long jump pit is filled with pure quartz or washed river sand that will not harden when wet. A 40-meter long runway should lead up to the pit. The long jump landing pit’s takeoff board should be located one meter behind the sand. A triple jump landing board must be placed at about 13 meters from the pit for men and eleven meters for women. The runway should be as wide as the runway on the track.
A competitor is allowed three attempts to leap into the landing pit. To be successful, the athlete must land on the sand and initiate an approach run within the time limit of 1 minute and 30 seconds. In addition, competitors must take into consideration the wind direction and whether the jump is in a head or tail wind. If the wind is in the athlete’s direction, the competition will be shortened by a few seconds. The long jump pit is an excellent training ground for athletes to increase their athletic potential.