Silent Jumps: Measuring Landings with a Phone

Using a sound meter app on a phone, pairs measure the decibels of each landing in low-intensity jumps. A quiet landing means good force absorption through the ankle, knee and hip, so noise becomes data for improving technique.

How to play

1. Explain how noise relates to impact force and place the phone with the sound meter on the floor 3 feet from the landing spot (3 min).
2. Baseline: 3 vertical two-foot jumps with no cues; the partner records the peak decibels (4 min).
3. Learning phase: land on the balls of the feet, bend hips and knees together and keep the knees aligned; 3 sets of 5 jumps (6 min).
4. Measure again and compare with the baseline (4 min).
5. Progression: forward jumps of about 20 inches and lateral jumps over a line, also measuring the noise (5 min).
6. Each pair works out the decibel drop and discusses it with the group (3 min).

Rules

• Keep the area completely quiet during measurements.
• Jump barefoot or in athletic shoes on a thin mat, never in socks on a slick floor.
• Jumps are submaximal: the goal is to land well, not jump high.
• Pause between jumps to stabilize.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing impairment: the decibel readout on screen gives instant visual feedback.
• Knee or ankle injury: acts as the measurer and practices landing mechanics with heel raises instead of jumps.
• Higher body weight: very low jumps or a controlled step-down from a low step.

Learning goals

• Use landing technique that reduces joint impact.
• Use a digital tool to collect objective technique data.
• Understand the role of force absorption in injury prevention.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tablets or phones: 15
• mats: 15
• cones: 15
• cards: 15

Teacher tip

Free sound meter apps are good enough for comparisons; what matters is keeping the phone at the same distance every time. Avoid running it next to another noisy class.

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