Tips for leapfrog: key points when jumping and practice methods. What you need to jump faster.

The hands can reach beyond the middle of the back.

When doing leapfrog, the position of your hands is more important than you might think.

With a vaulting box, many people find it easier to place their hands toward the far side.

The same applies to leapfrog: place your hands slightly beyond the “horse.” As a guideline, your fingers should hook around about the side of the torso.

This way, your palms land around the firm spine area for stability, and when you push off with your fingers as you vault, your body naturally moves forward.

If you can’t do leapfrog yet, first check where you’re actually placing your hands.

Look ahead, not down.

Many people feel scared and end up jumping while looking at the horse or their hands.

However, if you want to overcome the vault, it’s best to look forward as you jump.

When you keep your head down, it’s hard to generate momentum.

You also tend to lean forward, which can throw off your balance and increase the risk of falling.

I understand it’s scary, but try to be mindful of this little by little.

Once you can jump while looking ahead, you’ll also have the presence of mind to check the position of the next horse during a vaulting race!

Spread your legs firmly.

Appendix ② [Step-up Gym / Key Points for the Vault (Horse Jump)]

My foot got caught on the vaulting horse and I fell… I bumped into a friend’s leg and it was awkward… If you’ve had experiences like these while doing the vault, check how wide you’re spreading your legs during the jump.

Are you really opening your legs wide enough? Even if your jumping power isn’t the problem, you can still fail if your legs aren’t sufficiently open.

Rather than thinking, “This much should be fine,” try to spread your legs as wide as possible.

Also, lifting your hips high is another key point.

Maintain a stable posture

If the “horse” is unstable, the person jumping will feel uneasy, and there’s also a risk that both of you might fall and get injured.

Before doing leapfrog, make sure you can create a solid, stable “horse.” First, place your feet shoulder-width apart and firmly grip your knees with both hands.

Then lower your head as if looking at your belly button.

This will keep you steady without wobbling even when weight is placed on your back, making you an easy “horse” to jump over.

Shoulder width is only a guideline, so find the stance that keeps you steady even if you’re pushed side to side.

Keep your back parallel to the ground

If your back is rounded, the space to place hands becomes narrower.

In that state, the jumper can’t plant their hands firmly and it’s unstable, making it hard to jump.

So the person acting as the “horse” should consciously make their back flat and parallel to the ground.

Think of a vaulting box.

Be careful not to overdo it and let your back cave in.

If you can’t tell whether your back is flat, have someone else check for you.

Once they do, remember that feeling!

Start with the lower-ranked horses first.

Elementary school physical education vaulting box activity: 'leapfrog'

For your first practice, I recommend jumping over a low vaulting horse.

I think the biggest enemy in vaulting is fear.

To overcome that, start by trying a height you can clear comfortably.

If it’s too low, it can actually be hard to jump, so find the height that feels easiest for you.

Gaining the confidence that “I can do it little by little” will give you the courage to move on to the next step.

Don’t force yourself to jump a high horse—build confidence with small steps!

Take a running start and try jumping

Unlike the vaulting box, there’s no springboard for leapfrog.

Since you have to jump using only your own power, some people may stumble there.

In that case, start by practicing jumps with a run-up.

With a run-up, you gain momentum, and some people will find they can clear it.

It also gives you a reference for how much momentum you need when there’s no run-up.

Some may worry about the burden on the “horse,” but surprisingly, having more momentum actually reduces the load on the horse.