Long jump standards by age
What's a good long jump at 13, 15 or 17? Here are the official Scottish and English Schools standards for every age group, the rules on take-off and measuring, and how to jump further.
See the standards Book a session Written by Allan Smith, head coach at Edinburgh Sprint Coach: 4× British Champion, GB International and UKA Level 3 coach.The short answer
For 14–15-year-olds (Years 10–11), the English Schools county standard is 5.80m for boys and 4.90m for girls. In Scotland, U16 boys need 5.00m to enter the Scottish Schools Championships and 5.80m to make the Scottish ranking lists. U16 girls need 4.50m and 5.10m.
Long jump standards for boys and girls
Choose boys or girls. The Scotland table uses the new club age groups. The English Schools table uses school years. Every number comes from the official 2026 standards.
Boys — long jump: Scotland
Metres| Age group | Scottish Schools entry | Scottish ranking list |
|---|---|---|
| U14 | — | 4.85 |
| U16 | 5.00 | 5.80 |
| U18 | 5.40 | 6.40 |
| U20 | 5.50 | 6.60 |
Source: Scottish Schools' Athletic Association entry standards, 2026 (ssaa.co.uk). Age groups by birth year: U20 born 2007–08, U18 2009–10, U16 2011–12. Source: Scottish Athletics statisticians (SATS) ranking-list standards for 2026 (scotstats.net). This is the mark needed to appear in the Scottish ranking lists for the year.
Boys — long jump: English Schools standards
Metres| Group | School | District | County | Entry | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JuniorYears 8–9 · U15 | 4.70 | 5.00 | 5.30 | 5.80 | 5.95 |
| IntermediateYears 10–11 · U17 | 5.30 | 5.50 | 5.80 | 6.40 | 6.60 |
| SeniorYears 12–13 · U19 | — | 5.50 | 5.80 | 6.70 | 6.80 |
Source: English Schools' Athletic Association standards, 2026 (esaa.org.uk). Times in seconds, distances in metres.
Girls — long jump: Scotland
Metres| Age group | Scottish Schools entry | Scottish ranking list |
|---|---|---|
| U14 | — | 4.70 |
| U16 | 4.50 | 5.10 |
| U18 | 4.90 | 5.25 |
| U20 | 4.90 | 5.35 |
Source: Scottish Schools' Athletic Association entry standards, 2026 (ssaa.co.uk). Age groups by birth year: U20 born 2007–08, U18 2009–10, U16 2011–12. Source: Scottish Athletics statisticians (SATS) ranking-list standards for 2026 (scotstats.net). This is the mark needed to appear in the Scottish ranking lists for the year.
Girls — long jump: English Schools standards
Metres| Group | School | District | County | Entry | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JuniorYears 8–9 · U15 | 4.10 | 4.40 | 4.70 | 5.10 | 5.35 |
| IntermediateYears 10–11 · U17 | 4.20 | 4.60 | 4.90 | 5.40 | 5.55 |
| SeniorYears 12–13 · U19 | — | 4.60 | 4.90 | 5.50 | 5.60 |
Source: English Schools' Athletic Association standards, 2026 (esaa.org.uk). Times in seconds, distances in metres.
Wind matters here too. A long jump only counts for records and rankings if the tailwind is no more than 2.0 metres per second. Anything stronger is recorded as wind-assisted.
Which age group am I in?
Long jump is on the programme for every age group, from U12 upwards. UK athletics moved to two-year age groups in 2026.
Scottish age groups for the 2026–27 competition year (1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027), based on age at 31 December. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, under-10 to under-18 age groups are set by age on 31 August instead. Source: Scottish Athletics.
Younger jumpers: in England Athletics' funetics competitions, U12s take off from a 40cm zone around the board and are measured from where they actually took off. It's designed so young athletes aren't penalised for missing the board while they learn.
The five phases of a long jump
The single biggest factor in how far you jump is how fast you're running when you take off, as long as you can still control it. Everything else is about turning that speed into distance.
Approach
A consistent, accelerating run-up that reaches near top controllable speed at the board.
Penultimate step
The second-last step is slightly longer and lowers the hips a little, setting up the take-off.
Take-off
A quick, flat-footed plant with the body tall, the free knee driving up and the eyes looking forward, not down at the board.
Flight
Sail, hang or hitch-kick. Flight technique doesn't add distance by itself; it keeps you balanced and sets up the landing.
Landing
Legs out in front, arms sweeping forward, then fall forwards or sideways. Falling back costs distance because you're measured to the nearest mark.
Building a consistent run-up
Most fouls and most short jumps come from the run-up, not the take-off. A run-up you can repeat is worth more than a fast one you can't.
- Length: most young athletes use somewhere between 10 and 16 strides. Elite senior jumpers often use around 18 to 22. Longer only helps if you're still accelerating.
- Start the same way every time: a fixed starting mark and the same first steps, whether that's a standing start or a few walk-in steps.
- Measure it from the board with a tape, not by counting feet, so you can set it up at any track.
- Use a check mark: a coach watches where you land four strides out. If you're consistent there, you'll be consistent at the board.
- Adjust for conditions: a headwind or a slow runway can mean moving your mark forward a little.
Long jump rules in brief
Don't break the line
It's a foul if any part of your take-off foot breaks the vertical plane of the take-off line, even without touching the ground beyond it. Taking off from outside the ends of the board is also a foul.
Nearest mark, rounded down
Jumps are measured from the take-off line to the nearest mark in the sand made by any part of your body, at right angles to the line, and rounded down to the nearest centimetre.
Usually three, then three more
At most competitions everyone gets three jumps, and the best eight get three more. Some young age group events use fewer.
Walk out forwards
After landing, leave the pit forwards. Walking back through the sand can turn a good jump into a foul.
How to jump further
Long jumpers are sprinters who can jump. A good programme trains both.
Sprint speed
Faster approach, longer jump. Acceleration and top-speed work are core long jump training. See our sprint guide.
Short-approach jumps
Jumps off 4–8 strides let you practise take-off and landing many times without the fatigue of full run-ups.
Bounding and plyometrics
Bounds, hops and skips build the stiffness and power that a quick take-off needs. Build these up gradually.
Strength
Squats, split squats and Olympic-style lifts or jump squats for power, plus calf and hamstring strength.
Common mistakes
- Looking at the board, which drops the head and kills the take-off.
- Slowing down in the last few strides to hit the board.
- Overreaching with the last step and braking into the take-off.
- Falling back on landing and losing 20–30cm.
- Inconsistent run-ups that change from jump to jump.
Long jump coaching in Edinburgh
We coach young athletes, club athletes and adults at Meadowbank Sports Centre, which has an eight-lane outdoor track and a six-lane 60m indoor track with a jumps area for the winter. Head coach Allan Smith is a 2.29m high jumper and GB International, and our coaches work with jumpers on speed, run-ups and take-off.
Your first session includes a full technique assessment.
Sprint Analysis: slow-motion video, timed splits and a written plan for £60.
More athletics guides
Long jump: common questions
What is a good long jump for a 14-year-old?
In the English Schools tables for Years 8–9, county standard is 5.30m for boys and 4.70m for girls. In Scotland, the 2026 ranking-list standard for U14s is 4.85m for boys and 4.70m for girls.
What is a good long jump for a 16-year-old?
For Years 10–11, the English Schools county standard is 5.80m for boys and 4.90m for girls, and the entry standard for the national championships is 6.40m and 5.40m. In Scotland, U18s need 6.40m (boys) and 5.25m (girls) to make the 2026 ranking lists.
What do I need to qualify for the Scottish Schools long jump?
The 2026 Scottish Schools entry standards were 5.00m for U16 boys, 5.40m for U18 boys and 5.50m for U20 boys, and 4.50m for U16 girls and 4.90m for U18 and U20 girls.
How is a long jump measured?
From the take-off line to the nearest mark in the sand made by any part of the body, at right angles to the line, rounded down to the nearest centimetre.
What counts as a foul in long jump?
Breaking the vertical plane of the take-off line with any part of your take-off foot, taking off from outside the ends of the board, or walking back through the pit after landing.
How many strides should my run-up be?
Most young athletes use 10 to 16 strides, and elite seniors around 18 to 22. Use the longest run-up you can repeat consistently while still accelerating onto the board.
How many jumps do you get in competition?
Usually three, with the best eight getting three more. Some young age group competitions allow fewer, such as four in total.
What's the best way to jump further?
Get faster, make your run-up consistent, and practise a quick, tall take-off. For most young jumpers, sprint speed and run-up consistency make the biggest difference.
Ready to jump further?
Book a 1:1 session and we'll sort out your run-up, your take-off and your landing.
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