Partner Standing Broad Jump Chain | Friends

Quick Intro

In a Partner Standing Broad Jump Chain two partners link their jumps into one. Partner A jumps from the start line. Partner B steps up to exactly where A landed and jumps from there. A then jumps from B’s landing, and the chain carries on down the course until a jump lands past the finish. The pair counts their combined jumps, and fewer is better. Two pairs can also race the same course for time.

The standing broad jump itself, with the arm swing, the hip drive and a soft two-footed landing, is taught at Broad Jump. This guide covers the chain: marking each landing, the score, racing and keeping a long series of jumps safe.

What You’ll Need

A flat, clear, non-slip lane of 15 to 25 metres. Grass, turf or a track all work.
Something to mark the start and finish.
A small marker for landings, such as a cone or a beanbag. Chalk works on a track.
A timer, if racing another pair.

How to Play

Agree the course length and whether you are counting jumps or racing for time.
Partner A stands with toes behind the start line. Partner B stands just behind and to the side, out of the landing area.
A does a standing broad jump and lands under control.
B places the marker at the back of A’s rearmost heel.
A steps away to the side, and B sets their toes at the marker and jumps.
A marks B’s landing in the same way, and the chain continues, alternating every jump.
When a jump lands with both heels past the finish line, the chain ends. Count the total number of jumps.

What Counts

Toes at the mark. Every jump starts with the toes behind the previous landing mark. Edging forward, or taking off from a spot further along, is the main thing to avoid.
The rear heel decides the landing. The mark goes behind whichever heel is further back. A partner who steps or falls backward after landing has their mark at the rearmost point that touched.
Standing jumps only. Two feet together at the start, no run-up and no step.
Both partners alternate. Every jump is a different partner from the last one.

The Score

Fewest jumps. For a pair playing by themselves, the total number of jumps to cover the course is the score. Try to bring it down over a few chains, or over a few sessions. Since both jumps count toward one total, the pair has no reason to hold anything back from each other.

Racing another pair. Two pairs side by side on matching courses can race for time, from “go” until the last jump lands past the finish. Speed now matters too, so the marking and the swap need to be quick and still honest.

Making It Fair

Inside a pair no handicap is needed, since the stronger jumper’s distance helps both. When two pairs race, the pair with the shorter jumps can have the finish line moved closer. A simple way to set it: each person takes one practice jump, and each pair adds its two distances. The slower pair’s course is then shortened by an agreed share of the difference. Training With a Friend has more on setting handicaps like this one.

Staying Safe

Land soft. Bend the knees and hips on contact, and never land with locked legs.
Fatigue adds up. A chain can mean ten or more jumps each. Once landings get heavy or wobbly, stop.
Keep the landing area clear. The waiting partner stands to the side, never in front.
A non-slip surface. Wet grass is risky for a two-footed landing.

Common Mistakes

Shuffling the feet before the jump. The toes start at the mark, and creeping past it breaks the chain’s one rule.
Sticking the landing late. Falling or stepping back after landing moves the mark back.
Rushing in a race. A sloppy, half-set jump often covers less ground than a set one.
No warm-up. Jumping at full effort on cold legs is how hamstrings and calves get strained.

Fitting It Into a Session

A broad jump chain is power work, so it belongs early in a session after a full warm-up and before anything that tires the legs. One to three chains, with a full rest between them, is enough. See Building a Partner Session for where power games fit among the rest.

Getting Better Over Time

Note the course and the number of jumps for each chain. When the count drops, lengthen the course a little to keep the target hard. Each partner can also look at their own landing marks from the chain to see whether their jumps are getting longer.

Broad Jump Distance Contest pits the two partners against each other for distance.
Partner Leapfrog Relay is another chained-jump relay.
Rep Bet and Gamble Games include a version where each partner bets on their own broad jump distance.
Squat Jump builds the same leg drive without travel.

FAQ

Does the stronger jumper always go first?

It makes no difference to the total. Whoever goes first on one chain can go second on the next.

What if the last jump lands on the finish line?

It has to land with both heels past the line. One more jump is needed if either heel is on or before it.

How far should the course be?

Fifteen to twenty-five metres. Longer courses mean more jumps on tired legs.