JUMPING HIGHER and higher Dear Coach Ed, I'm twelve years old and I'm on my school's track and field team. I love to do the high jump, and I'm very good at it. The highest I've jumped is 4 feet 6 inches. Could you give me any tips on how to help me jump higher? Thank you so much, Scott Dear Scott, Hi Scott, 4 feet 6 is a good height for a twelve year old. Without seeing you jump I cannot comment on the mechanics of your jump but I will offer a few tips. A drill I give my high jumpers is high skipping drills. Pass this on to the long jumpers on your team they can use this too. Skip, throwing your arms up in a smooth, fluid, and exaggerated motion. Start off slowly, then continually bound higher. Do this for 30 seconds. Walk for 1 minute to rest, then do it again. Repeat 4 to 6 times, 3 or 4 days a week. During your competition don't get freaked when they raise the bar to a height you have never cleared before. Don't think about it too much. Don't change anything to your approach. You probably cleared the last height with room to spare! Face the new height with confidence. The breakthroughs come when you are at ease, relaxed, and confident. Good luck, Coach Ed Good luck, Coach Ed Ed Poirier, "Coach Ed", recently was invited by the United States Olympic committee to attend a workshop and training seminar at the Olympic training center in California. Feel free to email the kid's editor at goodrow@infi.net with comments on this column.