Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one ' s center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one ' s own muscle s ; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground ( jump ) from a standstill . Types of vertical jump . The vertical jump is divided into two different types : In general , the standing vertical jump is the one that is used as an official measurement for athletes . Where vertical jump measurements are used . Vertical jump measurements are used primarily in athletic circles both to measure performance and as something athletes brag about among themselves . The most common sports in which one ' s vertical jump is measured are track and field , basketball , football , and volleyball , but many sports measure their players ' vertical jumping ability during physical examinations . In addition , single and multiple vertical jumps are occasionally used to assess muscular strength and anaerobic power in athletes . How to measure vertical jumps . The simplest method to measure an athlete ' s vertical jump is to get the athlete to reach up against a flat wall , with a flat surface under his / her feet ( such as a gym floor or concrete ) and mark off the highest point he / she can reach flat - footed ( this is referred to as " standing reach " ) . Then , instruct the athlete to take several jumps from a standstill , marking off the highest point he / she can reach . Next , measure the distance between the two . This is the athlete ' s standing vertical jump and this can be monitored to track any increases in vertical jump . The method described above is the most common and simplest way to measure one ' s vertical jump , but other more scientifically accurate methods have been devised . A pressure pad can be used to measure the time it takes for an athlete to complete a jump , and then using a kinematics equation ( h = g * t / 8 ) , the computer can calculate his / her vertical jump based on the time in the air . A second , more efficient and correct method is to use an infrared laser placed at ground level . When an athlete jumps and breaks the plane of the laser with his / her hand , the height at which this occurs is measured . Devices based on United States Patent 5031903 , " A vertical jump testing device comprising a plurality of vertically arranged measuring elements each pivotally mounted . . . " are also common . These devices are used at the highest levels of collegiate and professional performance testing . They are composed of several ( roughly 70 ) 14 - inch prongs placed 0 . 5 inches apart vertically . An athlete will then leap vertically ( no running start or step ) and make contact with the retractable prongs to mark their leaping ability . This device is used each year at the NFL scouting combine . Vertical jump as an assessment . A vertical jump of or more is considered outstanding . Some athletes have even recorded vertical jumps over which are extremely rare . Vertical jump and power output . Vertical jumps are used to both train and test for power output in athletes . Plyometrics are particularly effective in training for power output , and include vertical jumps of different types in their protocol . In one recent study , training with plyometrics ( which included continuous vertical jumps ) was shown to increase vertical jump performance to similar degrees in combination with very different resistance training protocols , indicating that the plyometric jumping contributed to the increased jump height moreso than resistance training . Research into plyometric jumps found vertical jumps to be among the highest in terms of muscle recruitment ( as measured my electromyography ) , power output , and ground reaction force produced . Fatigue has been researched in athletes for its effect on vertical jump performance , and found to decrease it in basketball players , tennis players , cyclists , rugby players , and healthy adults of both genders . Common misconceptions about vertical jump . The most common misconception about vertical jump is that the measurement displays the athlete ' s ability to elevate off the ground from a run - up , contrary to from a standstill . The effect of this misconception is that many athletes will grossly inflate their vertical jumps . Also , athletes have learned to " cheat " the existing systems . The vertec can be cheated by not reaching as high on the initial measurement commonly referred to as " shrugging one ' s shoulders " . On the other hand , in practical terms , a running approach is often appropriately noted . E . g . , in volleyball , defenders at the net waiting to put up a block against a spiker will have standing jumps , but the spiker will have a running approach .