How to play Long Jump
Here’s how to play Long Jump: a free, old-school button-bashing track and field game in your browser. Alternate the left and right pads to build speed down the runway, tap JUMP just before the board and tap it again to lock your flight angle. Three jumps, and your best counts, against the Beat Pete characters all the way up to Pete himself.
Time your take-off at the board: cross it and it’s a foul, jump early and you lose the gap. Beat a character to unlock the next, and chase the longest jump on the leaderboard. Below you’ll find the full rules, tips and some common questions.
The basics
The long jump, button-bashing style. Build speed down the runway, take off at the board and lock your angle: three jumps, your best counts.
The run-up
- Tap left, then right, over and over. Every alternating tap gives you a push, and a steady rhythm pushes harder than ragged tapping.
- Hitting the same side twice is a stumble: no push, and you lose a little speed.
- Speed is most of your distance, so get up to full speed before the board.
- Phones and tablets only. Keys are far quicker than thumbs, so Track & Field isn’t playable with a keyboard or mouse. That keeps every record fair.
The take-off
- Tap the middle JUMP button just before the board. The distance is measured from the board, so jumping early costs you the gap.
- If your foot is past the board when you jump, or you run through it, that’s a foul and the attempt scores nothing.
The angle
- In the air an angle meter sweeps up and down. Tap JUMP again to lock it. About 22° (the green zone) flies furthest.
The ladder
- You compete against one of the ten characters, from level 1 up to Pete. Beat a character’s best of three to unlock the next. Four more jumpers fill the field, six of you in all, and your final place is shown too.
Marks
- Your longest jump goes on the leaderboard, to the centimetre. The world record is 8.95 m, and nothing in the game goes past 8.90 m.
Beginner tips
- Get your speed up first. A steady rhythm pushes harder than thrashing, and speed is most of your distance.
- Watch the board markers and start thinking about the jump about 10 metres out. The JUMP button glows when you’re close.
- Aim for the green zone on the angle meter, about 22 degrees. Too flat or too steep and the jump falls short.
- A foul scores nothing, so if you’re unsure, jump a touch early rather than late: a few centimetres of gap costs far less than a foul.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play Long Jump on a phone?
Tap the left and right pads with your thumbs to run, then use the middle JUMP button. The game is for phones and tablets only, because keys would be far quicker and records wouldn’t be fair.
What counts as a foul?
Pressing JUMP after your foot is past the board, or running through the board without jumping. A foul scores nothing for that attempt.
What is the best angle?
About 22 degrees. The angle meter sweeps up and down after take-off; tap JUMP when the needle is in the green zone.
How far can you jump?
A quick, clean run-up gets you into the high sixes. The world record is 8.95 m, nothing in the game goes past 8.90 m, and Pete’s best of three is a little under that.
How is it ranked?
By your longest jump, to the centimetre. You win by beating the character you chose.
Is Long Jump free?
Yes. It’s free to play in your browser, with nothing to download.
Ready to play Long Jump?
It’s free and works in your browser — no download. Start against Trevor, the friendliest opponent, and sign up free to climb the ladder of ten computer players all the way to Pete.
Play Long Jump now