From where to where is a jump measured?
I · Intermediate · The jump · 2 of 6A jump is measured from the nearest break in the sand made by any part of the body, or anything attached to it, back to the take-off line. The tape runs at a right angle to the line. The distance is recorded in whole centimetres, rounded down.
How it works
- From: "the nearest break in the landing area made by any part of the body, or anything that was attached to the body at the time it made a mark".
- To: "the take-off line, or take-off line extended".
- The angle: "The measurement shall be taken perpendicular to the take-off line or its extension."
- Rounding: distances are recorded "to the nearest 0.01m below the distance measured if the distance measured is not a whole centimetre".
- When: immediately after each valid trial.
- Every valid jump: the commentary says each valid trial must be measured whatever the distance, because any trial can matter in breaking a tie.
- Failed jumps: not normally measured, unless the athlete protests at once.
- The result: each athlete is credited with the best of all their trials.
- All three phases: the hop and the step are inside the measurement, because it starts at the take-off line.
Tricky cases
An athlete lands on their feet and then a hand goes down behind them. Where is the jump measured to?
To the hand mark. It is the nearest break in the sand.
A jump measures 8.097 m. What is recorded?
8.09 m. A distance that is not a whole centimetre is rounded down.
An athlete's hair or a loose piece of clothing makes a mark behind their heels. Does that count?
Yes. The rule includes anything attached to the body at the time it made the mark.
An athlete jumps at an angle and lands near the side of the pit. Is the jump measured along its path?
No. It is measured at a right angle to the take-off line, so a slanted jump scores less than the distance travelled.
Why the rule exists
Measuring to the nearest mark makes the landing part of the skill: an athlete who falls back loses distance. Measuring to the line and not to the foot makes the board the same starting point for everyone. Rounding down means no athlete is credited with distance they did not cover.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 29.8; TR 29.9; TR 25.21 |
| A protested failure | The referee may order the jump measured so that it can count if the protest succeeds | TR 8.5 |
| Records | Measured by three judges with a steel tape or by a scientific measuring device | CR 31.17.1 |
| Video measurement | The landing mark is not raked until the image has been confirmed | CR 28 commentary |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 8.5, 25.21, 29.8 and 29.9 with the commentary printed under them. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).