The Jumpers Clap! Why they do it and How it Started! 

Hey, thank you for your explanation, you did a great job of getting the facts straight. Also, thank you for letting people know the origin of the clap. But, most of all, I appreciate you explain how to do the clap and make it useful for jumpers. Let me know if I can help! @WillieBanks

100% Psychological! Extreme boost. I was a long jumper in college and I used the clap to "pump me up"! All of my furthest jumps came when I had the clap!

The clap is easily one of the best parts of the sport. I love that even if you don't follow the jumps, if the clap starts in the stadium, you can jump right in and start clapping getting excited like everyone else. Crazy Willie Banks had no idea what the clap would become, but he kept it going and now its an integral part of the sport.

Great video! I was fortunate enough to spend the last week coaching clinics with WILLY BANKS in Billings, Montana, and in Casper, Wyoming. During the course of the week I asked him to tell me the story about how the clap began. What a great experience to hear how it began directly from the originator. WILLY BANKS - legend.

I met Willie Banks as a kid in the early 80s when they use to have the Sports Festival in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy. He came over to our house for dinner with my older brother that ran the 200m/400m with UCLA and both of them were participating in the Sport Festival. He played basketball with us and neighborhood kids at Monterey Elementary School. We were all in awe on how high Willie could elevate and it seemed he could look down on the 10 foot basketball rim when he went after rebounds. Fast forward +30 years and I took my high school long jumper son to Willie Bank's long jump camp in southern California. It was ran by Willie Banks and Dick Fosbury (inventor of the high jump Fosbury flop).

My best jumps as well have happened when I get the crowd involved! I've even jumped close to my PR by imagining the crowd is clapping for me when it's a much smaller setting

I've only used the clap once and that was on my final 8'6 pole vault attempt at a meet. Gets you so hyped.

Man I got goosebumps all over when you told that Willie Banks story! Brilliant!

I remember very well when Willie Banks started this phenomenon. That same year is when the USA 4x100 meter relay team started to drop the button, it was at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki. Since then, the USA 4x1 was always a crap shoot.

Man…. Big Thanks. I was a real big Willie Bank fan as a kid & learned triple jump by watching videos of his jumps. Be cool brah 😊

I'm not a track & field guy by any means, just played tennis in high school and ran a casual 5k a few years ago... but man this is a beautiful story! Makes me glad I stumbled upon your channel tonight, initially from the "banned techniques" series.

My guess for the clap is to help the jumper pace their steps and help with cadence and timing.

Willie told us this story at the USATF annual meetings when he was running for our representative to the IAAF

Great origin story.

Awesome story! Thanks!!!

The History of Willie Banks and how this clap came to be is so interesting and very cool. Willie was entertaining and a skilled athlete! Thank you for sharing this story!!

This is a FANTASTIC story and you told it brilliantly! Thanks!

I remember competing in Ullevi (big and pretty crowded arena) and I clapped before my last jump. That feeling is so hard to explain, you kinda feel like the main character tbh. It motivates me to give it my all because it feels like everyone is specifically watching and cheering for me. When you need that extra energy clapping will give you that.

I don't give a shit about the triple jump or long jump. Excellent video and what an excellent athlete

Your video appeared in my recommended list, so I clicked it out of curiosity. 15 minutes later :) What a fantastic presentation and you were so clear and engaging with the story. And how awesome that Willie Banks himself left a comment! Thanks so much, I learned something new and looking forward to more videos.

I was there on that day in Stockholm back in 1981!

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, one of the athletics sessions was just concluding, with the men's hammer as the last event in progress. With a couple of rounds to go, the stadium announcer, having ignored the hammer for most of its duration, noticed that it was still in progress and drew the spectator's attention to the event by encouraging them to commence rhythmic clapping while the throws were in progress. This caught my attention because a few weeks earlier at the English Schools Athletics Championships one of the teenage throwers asked the spectators to clap for him for his last round throw. These are the only occasions I have heard rhythmic clapping for throwers.

The acoustic, rhythmic sound resonates in you. I feel like music can clear my mind and put me in tune with my focus. I hope that even a deaf person would feel the energy from that many people in the crowd.

Love this story!

It modifies the body chemistry of the jumper. It creates adrenaline. I used to compete at an international level playing soccer. I shot PKs for the finals for major International tournaments where the game and the attention of everyone is on you. All the conversations stop in the crowd...every player...every coach and trainer...everyone. The clapping here alters the "headspace" of the athlete because it focuses attention on them. There is a chemical response to being in this situation...it is intense and even 20 years later describing it I get a different chemical response with different emotions...its a powerful thing.

Awesome Job! I knew it was Willie Banks, but I did not know the whole story. It was fun watching the "Bouncing Barrister" back in the day.

So this was this year outdoor season and I was high jumping. It was at 5’8 which was the best in the state for freshman and best In my school’s history for freshman. Every other event was done and all the teams at the meet were there and I said that if I got that far I would do it. And I did and it was very epic

This is one of the more esoteric rabbit holes I've jumped head-first into but it's super awesome and interesting. Also super cool that they got Frodo explaining it all.

I think that the jumpers clap still exists because it gets their brains more stimulated, and they get excited, so they jump farther and put more effort into every single step

Wow you got the great @WillieBanks to join the conversation

I was at grand prix meet as a spectator a month ago. It was fully sold out and the crowd was really engaged and most jumpers didn't even have to start it. The top 3 in the mens division were just 3 cm apart. Will definitely try to go next year again. As that energy can't be felt on the tv

My first thought were, "this had to have started in Europe", mainly because of the culture of Ultras. The audience is probably already primed to be cheerleeders if they get a hint of direction (that usually comes from the Ultras).

I never asked people to clap, but The only one time i look Up in my National competition i screame loud as i coud, and i can remember some people in my team and some in The other side of track and field clapping to, that's The day i jumped 2,00 meters first and only time till now

RU-vid algorithm at the worst. 343 views for channel with 285k subscriber in 19 hrs, what? Just subscribed btw!

I know throwers use the clap as well shotput, discus

LOL someone should start the butt clap for track 😂

In here Finland javelin throwers also use the jumpers clap.

Works the same for strength sports as well. The audience yelling charges you UP, man!

I would do the clap, but I’m not good enough 🤣 21’/6.4m puts me at one of the worst at our meets (D3). Woulda done it in HS but we had no fans.

12:48 The sound from my bathroom at 2 am.

The only time I’ve ever had the crowd clap for me I added an extra 10 inches to my jump.

(If u don’t wanna read all that down there.. Im saying that I PRd by 6ft in the triple jump, by doing the clap for the first time..🙌🏾🙌🏾) When I was in high school, I was always messing up doing the triple jump, I thought I was good but I really wasn’t.. I was always fouling, I had no form, and it was always just messing up my legs.. I finished the year with 37 ft not even placing in county championships.. A year later, when my season started, I missed my first two triple jump events purposely, until I had an invitational that I had to do and show out.. I had 5 events that day including the 300 hurdles so my legs was basically done really.. When I did my jumps, I fouled all 3 of my jumps and I couldn’t even reach the pit.. My coaches saw and was gettin mad were confused, They eventually told me to try and change my mark but that was just making it worse.. I finished that day fouling all 3.. I was tryin and it honestly made my legs hurt like crazy.. The next meet I was able to get one mark down and I hit 37 ft not even PRing the last year I did it.. so I was already doubting the event and told myself I wasn’t gonna do it again.. The event that I thought was my favorite soon came to be my most hated.. All that hurting, risking Achilles, all those shin splints, and couldn’t even satisfy.. I remember I wanted to do sports in college, and told myself I have to get on the radar immediately.. My coach had a d3 coach fly all the way to a 3 hour flight to come and visit us, since we already had some good talent on our team.. He came to us, and there were atleast 7 seniors on the team and talked to all of us, of all grades.. At the end I was telling myself if I should go talk to him, and I went and talked to him.. He asked my pr, and I was lowkey feeling disappointed saying that, saying my pr was only 37 ft, and that I didn’t pr in over a year.. So I went out and told him that I didn’t do the event yet this year I’m pretty sure.. So he said that he will be at the next meet watching me, and that honestly suprised me.. I didn’t know he was coming to watch, and he said he needed some athletes so I was pumped definitely.. So the day the meet came, my school hosted a big meet, and about 30 schools from different areas went there.. I was double thinking about this day about if I would even show out.. And I remember my friend telling me that I better show out that day, and I remembered him saying jokingly “Imma start clapping for you” and I was like nahh nahh, cus at the time I did not want to embarrass my team, trying to do the clap and my pr is only 37 feet, I can’t just start up the clap and end up jumping something like a 34.. So prelims was starting, and I was looking for the college scout, but he wasn’t here yet, so I was just using that as my advantage.. So it was just me, my coach, and my teammates.. And a lot of my teammates were sitting down watching me, so I warmed up, but I remember my legs being so hurt from my past 3 events, so I went and took off my spikes and put on my running shoes, since I knew that triple jumping would hurt even worse, especially in spikes.. So I was warming up, and started off slow approaches and I felt pretty good, but I didn’t have enough time so I just got my mark and warmed up like one time.. So then it started.. My first jump was a whopping 39.9 ft, and my coach was so pumped.. And told me to go for that 40.. I went and triple jumped and jumped a perfect 40.2 ft, I was amazed and even my coach wanted to push my to go for more length so then he pushed my board back to the 40 board, I knew this was crazy, especially cus i only jumped 2 inches past 40 ft and my legs was starting to feel sore already so I just did it anyways, but then remembered it was only prelims.. So I jumped, scratched, and didn’t even reach the board.. So coach just told me rest my legs.. Some of my teammates were watching and were glad as I told them.. So then I found out I made it to the finals.. The scout got note, and came over to the pit but I didn’t know.. I moved my board back to the 38 board since I wasn’t sure what my legs were capable of after prelims.. My first jump I scratched, but I got so far into the pit and my coach was so suprised and told me “that’s atleast a 41” but the girls were still long jumping on the other side so he had to go over there at that time.. So then my teamed were hyping me up, because I remember that there was a scout here, and they were telling me to get 41, so I was pumped.. Then my friend came up to me, “U want me to start up the clap?” And I remembered that I was officially a consistent 40 jumper now.. So I told him I don’t know yet cus I was still not sure.. So then my turn came in and I was on the board ready to pr in the TJ a 3rd time today.. I looked at the pit.. Then The board, The camera that my friend was using to record, then my friend, then he put up a “thumbs up” indicating and asking if he could start the clap, then I nodded, and I remember my friend telling me to jump 41 ft, and I promised I would do so, and then he started clapping, and with everyone watching me.. I clapped slowly.. then fast.. Then had my face towards the board.. With all my strength and speed at that time, I ran into the board without thinking about anything else as the claps got faster, then with all the power, I Jumped, Hopped, and then leaped into the pit, and it felt so good, I couldn’t believe it, I turned around and I was halfway into the pit, so I ran into the mark, and even I heard my coaches screaming so he ran from the girls pit to my pit, and we all waited to hear what the mark was.. As soon as they said 41- my coaches and all my teammates ran up to my and tumbled onto me as I fell, I finished that jump with a 41’7, and it was all on camera.. The scout walked up to me and gave me a validation and he looked real proud.. at that moment I could just only thank god.. But yet did people know.. That wasn’t even my last jump yet, and I still had it approaching.. And someone else PRed and placed above me when I was in 1st, so I was already pumped with so much confidence.. All my coaches came over to watch, the scouts, my friends and teammates.. And it was just me and the board.. I held my hands above my head this time, slowly clapping, as everyone followed.. Then I stared at the pit, and ran full sprint, all I heard was “go!, go!, go!,” then I hopped, skipped, then leaped again, this time with my 3rd phase jumping so high, I promise u I felt like I was floating for a good 3 seconds up there until I landed.. and I was way farther into the pit then I was last time when I turned around, I was almost at the end.. So I couldn’t believe it and I thought I fouled, so I just wanted to see validation.. When I saw the white flag go up, I just told myself “no… No… No..” I just couldn’t believe it, The officials walked to my mark and everyone was around the pit waiting for what they would say.. And jumping that, I remember my friend that was recording me telling me to jump 42 ft.. I instead told her I was gonna jump 43.. Then the official held his head up and said “43ft” Everyone was screaming, and I was too, my coach tumbled on my again, and the scout came up to me and got my number and my contact immediately and came to recruit me.. That day I PRd by 6 feet.. In running shoes.. My other coach even came up to interview me, it felt amazing, and later on I got my medal, but then the scout came and wanted to tell my head coach the news, so the scout told him “did you hear what he did??” And my head coach said, “yea I know he jumped 40 feet good job”, but then the scout said “no, he jumped 43ft!” Then my head coach stopped and said “really?? Wow man that’s crazy!, head to the field and I will go and talk to you soon and get your medal”, I felt amazing that day so I went and posted it all on social media, I also found out that I made it to nationals, and I even was tied for top in the state for TJ and the 300h, I was also good in my other events, that I made the all-county team.. I had the improved of the year award, and the unsung hero award, and soon, I had so many colleges coaches hitting me up, and I had tens of offers, and committed to a college to become an NCAA athlete.. But anyways other than this insanely long story.. The clap is truly legendary as it really pumps u up, and it can really help you a lot.. I am still till this day saying how crazy that was that I did all of that in flats and running shoes..

I believe that you are not jumping alone; your whole tribe has its attention on you.

That Willy Banks story is quite brilliant.

i'm a jumper and i personally really hate the clap because for me it can really throw off the rhythm of steps

I thought this was about softening the air by stirring it.

I've never done this, nor have I participated in it.

As a coach, do you really want your jumpers getting the clap? 😊

And here I thought the "Jumpers Clap" was an STD common in the athlete's Olympic villages.

I think it primarily began with professional track & field, and the sponsors thought that would be a good way to get the spectators involved. It probably helps the extroverted athlete more than the introverted, but I have yet to see it make much difference one way or the other.

It's called a "Spirit Bomb".

13:10 that's what i thought

Would of thought you're more likely to get an adrenaline boost. With fans clapping for you. Feeling more presser as you're awere the focus of all them claps is on you.

Willie Banks telling the story himself: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-U-XKDihveyM.html

Does adrenaline have anything to do with it?

15 minutes for a simple question?

Bro looks like logan paul

I still feel awkward about the fact it gets used on literally every Long and Triple Jump these days. So many of which are fouls or just really average jumps; loses something with overuse. High Jump and Pole Vault is at least a little more selective.

As a high jumper I find the claps distracting and disruptive to my own rhythm

"I'll try to summarize it as best as I can." Too late.

How is it a banned technique?

I think you're a bit too late with your history of the jumper's clap. The Ancient Greek athletes used to use musicians during training. The rythym and spectacle, as well as envoking Euterpe, helped the athletes train.

Its ANNOYING IMO use to be they wanted quite which i prefer.

Ban it

It was special for Banks. Today it is overused and dull.

Wrong playlist.

I appreicate the explanation, and I may be in the minority, but I find the "jumpers clap" to be one of the more annoying and cringey things in track and field. It's like nowadays every single jumper, on every single freaking jump, automatically starts doing the overhead clapping motion. Just jump already.