Jump-event RED-S screen
Jumpers RED-S
Warning Signs
For coaches, parents, and jump athletes
Jumpers and vaulters often hide low energy availability behind power talk until tendon pain, bone issues, mood drift, and rigid eating begin to cluster.
Evidence-basedCoach-safeReferral requiredNot diagnostic
Explosive events still break down when the athlete is training on too little fuel.
Low Risk (Green)
Stable energy, stable jump quality, and no obvious restriction or injury drift.
Action: keep visible carbs, recovery food, and body-neutral language consistent.
Moderate Concern (Yellow)
Tendon soreness, flat jump sessions, or body-pressure behavior starting to stack together.
Action: refer this week and lower the load while the athlete gets help.
High Risk (Red)
Bone pain, rapid weight loss, severe restriction, or obvious inability to recover between sessions.
Action: stop normal training and move to same-day medical support.
Risk Clusters
Performance + Feel
- Loss of pop, slower approach speed, or poor repeat jumps.
- Tendon soreness that lingers instead of calming down.
- Lifting quality and jump quality both dropping at once.
Fueling + Behavior
- Skipped meals, carb fear, or visible stress around body size.
- Using supplements or extra conditioning to avoid the real fueling issue.
- Team-meal avoidance or praise-seeking around eating less.
Health Drift
- Bone pain, repeat injuries, or slow rehab from smaller issues.
- Cycle concerns, low mood, or repeated fatigue.
- Rapid body change during the season.
Immediate Referral TriggersRefer to athletic trainer or physician today if you notice:
Bone pain or repeat tendon trouble with clear underfueling signs
Rapid weight loss in a jumper or vaulter
Visible restriction plus training-quality collapse
Fainting, severe dizziness, or same-day safety concerns
What Not To Say
- Do not act as if jump events are too short to have fueling problems.
- Do not praise thinness as a performance trait.
- Do not let tendon pain become background noise if the athlete is clearly underfueled.
Coach Action Steps
- 1Keep the conversation on fuel, recovery, and durability instead of aesthetics.
- 2Document repeated tendon and bone concerns as part of the referral story.
- 3Loop in guardians, ATC, and sports medicine when the cluster is obvious.
- 4Pause the urge to add more conditioning when the athlete already looks underpowered.