WHAT IS A PENULTIMATE STEP?
Penultimate means “second to last” so the Penultimate Step is the second to last step of the approach. This step prepares your athlete for the last step, which is the plant.
WHY DO HIGH JUMPERS DO A PENULTIMATE STEP?
The Penultimate Step prepares the jumper for the plant and takeoff. This step helps lower the athlete’s center of gravity which then allows them to get off the ground with their takeoff foot.
WHAT DOES A PENULTIMATE STEP LOOK LIKE?
The Penultimate Step looks like a flat step, that is slightly quicker and shorter than the rest of the strides in the approach. Another way to put it is that it is a “light” flat step.
Look at any basketball player as an example. When a player goes up for a layup or dunk, they have a flat second to last step which propels them into their last jumping step.
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