Portable Jump Mat (SmartJump)

The Portable Jump Mat enables users to incorporate explosive power measurement and plyometric training into their SmartSpeed drills. 

The mat can be connected to any SmartSpeed timing unit and does not require calibration before use.

When the Portable Jump Mat is added to the SmartSpeed Pro system, the timing units can be configured to provide audio and visual feedback based on user-set thresholds. Multiple mats can also be added to the SmartSpeed Pro system to run numerous jump stations concurrently.

Note: The Portable Jump Mat is the same mat included in the SmartJump system.

Configuring Portable Jump Mat

Mat Sensitivity

The sensitivity of the Portable Jump Mat is an important factor to consider when collecting jump data. 

The mat sensitivity is set to ignore flight times of less than 100ms, by default. This is to prevent errors due to false triggers.

False triggers occur during a jump when the athlete shifts their weight on the mat as they begin to take-off. This displacement in weight occurs over a short time and is often incorrectly recorded as the athlete's flight time. 

By reducing the sensitivity of the jump mat, it is possible to ignore these incorrect readings. Reducing the sensitivity of the mat is also useful when using the mat on soft ground, where the mat could sink or be easily displaced during the drill. 

User can also increase the sensitivity of the jump mat for drills. This is useful when running a drill that involves athletes performing rapid jumps in succession, or triggering the mat with a ball. Due to the nature of these drills, the displacement of the athlete's weight or ball is repetitive and often difficult to detect.

Note: The sensitivity adjustment does not alter the accuracy of the data collected. It instead allows users to set thresholds for the data. The system flags any data under this threshold, ignoring it when it comes to analysing the athlete’s performance. 

Mat sensitivity is set when creating drills in VALD Hub.

Real-Time Feedback

SmartSpeed provides real-time feedback to both coaches and athletes during jumping drills. The feedback is set up to reflect a performance outcome determined by coaches, such as a good or poor jump height.

The feedback signal differs depending on the SmartSpeed timing units being used. For example:

• The SmartSpeed Dash timing unit,  provides an audible ‘beep’ feedback signal; and
• The SmartSpeed Pro timing units provide a visual ‘light’ feedback signal.

There are two levels of feedback provided by the SmartSpeed system. Primary feedback and secondary feedback.

• Primary feedback refers to a single source of feedback provided by SmartSpeed. For example this could be either jump height or contact time.
• Secondary feedback refers to another source of feedback, alongside the primary feedback. 

Real-time feedback is set when creating drills in VALD Hub.

Connecting Portable Jump Mat

The Portable Jump Mat can be connected via a PS2 port to either:

• A SmartSpeed Dash timing unit
• A SmartSpeed Pro timing unit
• SmartHub (Port A)
• SmartScan RFID reader (The RFID reader is then connected to the timing unit)