Biomechanics is a science concerned with forces and the effect of these forces on and within the human body. Biomechanics is important to understanding techniques used in a sport and is of value to both coach and player and allows these people to choose the best technique, reduce the risk of injury and also design equipment for the athlete to use. When competing in the long jump, athletes experience the biomechanical principles of linear motion, speed, acceleration, momentum, dynamic balance, surface drag, Newton’s 2nd law, Newton’s 3rd law, contact forces and summation of forces. Linear motion takes place when a body and all parts connected to it travel the same distance in the same direction and at the same speed. When completing the motion of long jump, linear motion occurs on the approach where the athlete sprints towards the sandpit. By keeping all parts of the body in a parallel direction to the direction of the travel a long jumper would be able to increase their speed to a much higher point than if the athlete rotated laterally with the arms or the legs while completing the sprint approach. Therefore keeping the body in the highest linear motion bracket is a pivotal principle that increases the efficiency of the long jump. Speed is equal to the distance covered divided by the time taken cover the distance. Athletes competing in the long jump would significantly improve their performance by travelling at a faster speed as they would therefore gain more momentum than if they were to travel at a slower speed. By developing speed as a result of training and improved techniques, an athlete would greatly improve their efficiency in the long jump. Acceleration is stated as the rate at which velocity changes over time. The unit of acceleration is measured in metres per second squared and can be found by using the formula final velocity minus initial velocity divided by time elapsed. Long jumpers require acceleration so that they reach maximum velocity when they take-off. Acceleration largely depends on muscle contractions that are quick but can also be additionally improved through the use of biomechanical techniques such as leaning the body forwards or moving all parts of the body in a linear motion. Momentum is defined as when the object starts to move, it has a tendency to keep on moving. The momentum may be calculated using the formula: momentum equals mass times velocity. During the long jump, momentum is present when the athlete first leaves the take-off plate. The momentum of the athlete will carry him/her into the sand pit as all forces on the body are moving forwards before hitting the ground. Therefore by having more momentum, a long jumper would be able to propel themselves to a further distance thus increasing the effective