Ricketts slams new jumps technology

National jumps coach Kerry Lee Ricketts says that the new technology to judge foul jumps is the latest example of unnecessary changes to the discipline on the international stage.

Athletes have voiced their opinions on the new technology for the long and triple jump events, which was first introduced at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, last month. The equipment replaced the traditional use of plasticine to determine if any part of the athlete's foot broke the vertical plane of the take-off line. For each attempt, a red or green light is flashed depending on whether it was a foul.

However, there have been concerns regarding the technology with athletes at the championships shown to have made a legal jump but the sensor is registering a no jump call.

Ricketts, who coaches 2019 World Athletics Championship triple jump silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts, says that recent experimentation with the jumps is too much.

"I do not know what is going on in the head of whoever is making these decisions," the coach told THE WEEKEND STAR. "Every year there is something new with jumps. If the sport is losing fans, it's not the jumps that are losing fans. Why it is that they keep saying that we have to try and change to bring attention to the jumps?"

Alternations have previously been made to the events, with the Diamond League introducing a final three format last year which saw the top three jumpers go to a playoff to decide the winner. That was also met with strong opposition from the athletes and was scrapped after the 2021 season. Ricketts says that the uncertainty with the technology will cause the athletes to be at a disadvantage.

"What was now perfect on the board, would now be a no jump," he said. "Whatever they (World Athletics) are doing is affecting the performance of the athletes at the end of the day because everybody will be extra cautious now."

Four time Olympic long jump champion Carl Lewis used social media to voice his frustration, as did British record holder Shara Proctor. Proctor recently posted a picture with her attempt, which was called a no jump by the technology.

"I am confused. How is this a foul? When will they stop changing the rules in our event? What even is this?" she said on March 20.

The technology will be used at the World Athletic Championships in Oregon this July.