Sithembinkosi L Jiyane
Sports Reporter
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has intensified its national awareness and education campaign aimed at strengthening the development of long jump as a core discipline within track and field, with a strong focus on schools, clubs and grassroots structures.
NAAZ says long jump plays a critical role in athlete development because it combines speed, explosive power, coordination and timing.
The association notes that many elite sprinters and multi-sport athletes begin their careers in long jump, making it an important foundation event that supports broader athletic performance, including in football and other field sports.
The campaign also places emphasis on proper technical understanding of the event, breaking it down into the four key phases: the approach run, take-off, flight and landing.
According to NAAZ, mastering these phases not only improves performance but also reduces the risk of injury, particularly among young and developing athletes.
Zimbabwe’s national men’s long jump record holder, Ngonidzashe “Ngoni” Makusha, is featured as a benchmark of excellence.
Makusha’s 8.40-metre jump, achieved at the 2011 NCAA Division I Championships in Des Moines, United States, remains the national record and stands as proof of the heights Zimbabwean athletes can reach with structured coaching, exposure and high-performance environments.
The association is also prioritizing athlete welfare by stressing the need for safety and injury prevention in long jump training.
NAAZ is urging coaches to focus on thorough warm-up routines, strengthening key muscle groups such as the hamstrings and glutes, managing training loads carefully, and using suitable surfaces for high-impact drills. The association notes that many injuries in jumping events stem from poor technique and excessive training.
“Proper preparation, correct technique and controlled training volumes are essential in reducing injuries and ensuring athletes develop safely and sustainably,” read part of the statement.
NAAZ has also published performance guidelines to help coaches and athletes assess development levels, from beginner and club standards to national and elite benchmarks. These guidelines are intended to create clear progression pathways and promote consistency in athlete assessment across the country.
A key pillar of the campaign is infrastructure development. NAAZ has urged schools, local authorities, corporate partners and sporting institutions to invest in basic but essential facilities such as standardized sand pits, take-off boards, runway markings and measuring equipment.
The association believes that relatively modest investments can significantly improve training quality and talent identification.
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