What it measures
Lower-body explosive power augmented by upper-body coordination (arm swing). Closer to game-relevant jumping than a hands-on-hips CMJ.
Equipment
- Vertec, jump-and-reach apparatus, or a wall with chalk
- Tape measure if using the wall method
- Non-slip surface to land on
Protocol
- Athlete stands flat-footed under the Vertec (or against the wall) and reaches up with the dominant hand as high as possible — this is the standing reach.
- Athlete steps back, then takes one or two steps in is allowed only for the run-up vertical (specify which version you're using and stick to it).
- Athlete uses an arm swing and counter-movement dip, then jumps maximally upward and taps the highest possible vane (or wall mark).
- Difference between standing reach and tap height = vertical jump height.
- 60 s rest between trials. Best of 3.
Scoring
Vertical jump height in inches or cm. NFL Combine reports in inches.
Typical ranges
NFL Combine median ≈ 33 in (84 cm). NCAA male basketball: 28–38 in. NCAA women's volleyball: 20–28 in. NCAA women's soccer: 16–24 in.
Practical notes
- Vertec is more reliable than wall-and-chalk because the athlete sees the vanes and can target precisely. Wall method is fine for baseline tracking with a single athlete.
- Run-up vertical (with a step or two) is significantly higher than a static-stance vertical — pick one method and stick with it across testing days.
References
- Sayers SP, Harackiewicz DV, Harman EA, et al. (1999). Cross-validation of three jump power equations. Med Sci Sports Exerc.
Use this test in Performance House
Performance House supports Vertical Jump (Vertec / Reach Test) as a built-in test metric — log results from any device, see longitudinal trends, and contribute the result to the athlete's Performance Index automatically. Free for up to 5 athletes on the Starter plan.
Browse the full protocol library for related tests, or jump to one of the related protocols below.