Free Athletic Performance Tool
Enter your broad jump distance to predict your 40-yard dash time, sprint speed, and see exactly where you rank against athletes at every level.
Your Broad Jump
The broad jump and sprint acceleration share the same fundamental physical demand: horizontal force production. In both movements, your legs must drive your bodyweight forward by pushing explosively into the ground at an angle. Athletes with superior horizontal power output consistently perform well at both.
At the NFL combine, the broad jump is one of the most reliable predictors of 40-yard dash time — particularly for the first 10 yards of the sprint where acceleration mechanics dominate. Research shows correlations of approximately 0.7 to 0.8 between broad jump distance and 40-yard dash performance across large samples of combine athletes.
This is why scouts use the broad jump as a proxy for acceleration potential. A receiver who jumps 10'6" almost certainly accelerates out of breaks faster than one who jumps 9'0" — even before they run a step.
| Level | Male Avg | Female Avg | Elite at That Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational | 6'6"–7'6" | 5'6"–6'6" | 8'0"+ |
| High School Athlete | 7'6"–8'6" | 6'0"–7'0" | 9'0"+ |
| College Athlete | 8'6"–9'6" | 7'0"–8'0" | 10'0"+ |
| NFL Skill Position Avg | 10'2" | — | 10'10"+ |
| NFL All-Position Avg | 9'8" | — | 10'6"+ |
| NFL Combine Record | 11'5" (Byron Jones) | — | — |
Since the broad jump measures horizontal power, the most effective training emphasizes forward force production rather than vertical explosion. The three best exercises are:
Sled sprints — pushing a sled at 10–20% bodyweight directly trains the horizontal drive angle that produces broad jump distance. 6 × 20 yards twice per week produces rapid improvements.
Heavy squats — the same strength foundation that drives sprint speed also drives broad jump. Athletes who squat 1.5× bodyweight or more consistently broad jump significantly farther than those below 1.0×. See our Squat Strength Predictor to find your strength target.
Standing broad jump practice — the technique of the jump itself matters. Arm swing timing, hip hinge depth, and landing mechanics all affect distance. Practice the movement specifically — 3 sets of 5 max-effort jumps twice per week with full rest between jumps.