Long and triple jump

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Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in long and/or triple jump as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland School Sport.

Risk level

Medium risk
Long and/or triple jump activities involving jumping from a track into a pit.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. venue manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Competition rules and procedures with additional or more stringent safety requirements take precedence.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must closely supervise the approach, take-off and landing areas. Participants must not begin their run up until the landing area is clear
must regularly monitoring the landing pit condition, inspecting for foreign objects throughout the activity
must allow jumping in 1 direction only
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures, slippery run-up/take-off).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider, the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity.

Emergency qualifications may include:

Medium risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching long and/or triple jump
an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with current Level 1 Youth Coach accreditation from Athletics Australia (or equivalent).

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Landing pit must be:

at least 2.75m wide and long enough for all participants to land safely
filled with sufficient soft sand to be level with the runway surface and absorb impact from landing
free from foreign objects (e.g. rocks, sticks). Depolluted, where necessary.

Take-off area must be:

a non-slip board or mat (e.g. wood, carpet), appropriate to the footwear being worn by participants (e.g. spikes)
positioned to ensure participants can reach the landing area. A variety of take-off points for triple jump may be required
fixed securely. If pegs are used to secure take-off mats, they must be fixed in all corners to avoid tripping and be level with the ground to avoid laceration
flat and level with the runway surface
clearly visible from the runway.

Ensure spikes, if worn, are no longer than 9mm (synthetic surface) or 12mm (grass surface) per the Little Athletics competition rules and regulations. Follow venue requirements, if available.

Wear shoes (recommended) or tape the feet when using a wooden take-off board to avoid small splinters.

A whistle, flags, cones for command signalling must be readily available.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Biological hazards Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)	Manage open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.4MB) for first aid and hygienic practices
Environmental conditions Weather, sun, humidity	Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers. Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing (e.g. long sleeved shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside. Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Activity location	Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used venues to ascertain suitability
Faulty or dangerous equipment	Confirm there are no slip hazards on take-off board before each jump (e.g. water, sand). Use markers made from non-injurious material (e.g. cardboard, foam). Do not leave markers in or adjacent to the pit
Playing surface	Conduct a field check to identify and manage runway surface hazards. Clear the runway surface from loose items or debris. Do not participate on a surface that is slippery, unduly rough or chopped up. Cover/fill runway hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads, holes) to be level with the surrounds. Check damp sand is sufficiently soft to absorb landing impact. Rake and level the landing pit after each jump
Sharp implements or objects	Mark the edges of wooden take-off boards with plastic dome markers or similar. Do not leave unattended rakes, forks and shovels in or beside the landing pit. If placed on the ground, face prongs downwards
Student considerations	Control measures
Physical exertion Exhaustion and fatigue	Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities. Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks
Student issues	Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating. Ensure fingernails, hair and clothing (e.g. pockets) do not interfere with the activity. Implement a safe jumping procedure to ensure jumping occurs in 1 direction only (e.g. remove barrier device or witches hat and call name or whistle signal to start the run up). Provide specific safety induction for students wearing spikes. Clear the landing pit before students start their approach. Implement procedures (e.g. roll marking mechanisms) to account for all participants before, during and after the activity

Additional links

World Athletics manuals and guidelines—see competition and technical rules

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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CARA guidelines