High Jump is an individual sport where participants must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights, without aid of any devices. The person that jumps over the highest placed bar is the winner.

High jump is the track and field sport that tests competitors on how high they can get, and how much they can contort their bodies. Starting from at least 15 meters away, high jumpers approach a horizontal crossbar with the intention of twisting their bodies over it. Each jumper is allowed three attempts at each height, which are cancelled out if a jumper knocks the crossbar off the uprights. The jumper that clears the highest crossbar is the winner.

Jump over a crossbar positioned at the highest possible position.

The runway area must be at least 15-meters long. The crossbar is 4-meters long. Jumpers may begin jumping at any height announced by the judge, or can pass if they wish. All jumpers are given three attempts to clear the bar at each height. Take-offs must occur from a single foot. If the bar falls while a jumper is still on the mat, the jump is considered a failure. The jumper that clears the highest crossbar is the winner.

The high jump is one of the world's oldest sports, predating the ancient Olympics by hundreds of years. It was revived for the modern era in Scotland in the 19th century. At the time, jumpers would use a straight-on approach or a scissors technique to clear the crossbar. By the beginning of the 20th century, greater heights were cleared by using the Eastern cut-off. Ways of clearing higher distances with more efficiency were introduced to the sport throughout the 20th century. This culminated with the Fosbury flop, which debuted at the 1968 Summer Olympics. This technique was used to set a new world record, and has been used by high jumpers ever since. Today high jump remains a popular track and field event, with the highest level of competition found at the Summer Olympics.

Crossbar
Mat
Shoes

High jump is a relatively safe sport. Most injuries that occur are limited to muscle strains and pulls.

Success in high jump hinges upon an athlete's speed, leg strength and flexibility. These can be acquired through weight training, aerobic exercise and yoga.

Eastern Cut-Off - style of jumping used as an intermediate progression from Scissors Jump to Fosbury Flop; characterized by running at the bar straight on, then driving the near leg in the air when the hips clear the bar

Fosbury Flop - style of jumping originated by American Dick Fosbury; characterized by running in a curve, which allows the jumper to lean into their turn, away from the bar; allows the jumper's center of gravity to be lowered, giving a longer time period for the take-off thrust

Scissors Jump - style of jumping used when the landing surface isn't deep or soft enough to ensure a safe landing on the back; positioning of the legs allows the jumper to land on his/her feet

Western Roll - style of jumping used prior to the Fosbury flop; characterized by the head and trunk passing over the bar at the same time

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_jump