An animation of a science beaker with a bubbling green liquid appears on screen with a title that reads "Sports Lab."

Now Nykeem appears on screen walking on bleachers near a running track. Nykeem is in his thirties, has shaved black hair, is clean-shaven, and wears a dark purple tank top.

Nykeem says HEY EVERYONE,
WELCOME TO SPORTS LAB,
WHERE WE CONNECT
SPORTS TO SCIENCE,
AND CONNECT YOU WITH FUN.

(Theme music plays)

The opening sequence begins.

Two light blue doors with a title that reads "Sports Lab" open where thousands of sports equipment encircles a classroom skeleton. The animated balls fly throughout the white room stopping at scenes of people playing different sports.

First Nykeem kicking a soccer ball, then a boy on a skateboard, then a tennis ball, then a hockey goalie, and lastly of a group of kids and Nykeem who break on a tennis court and say SPORTS LAB!

All the sports equipment turns into different colours and funnel into a science beaker with green liquid with a label that reads "Sports Lab."

(music plays)

Nykeem appears on screen walking around the track.

Nykeem says MY NAME'S NYKEEM AND TODAY
WE'RE SETTING THE BAR HIGH
AND JUMPING INTO A SPORT
THAT'S LIKE A PROFESSIONAL
GAME OF LIMBO.
BUT THIS TIME, YOU'RE
GOING OVER THE POLE.
I GIVE YOU:
HIGH JUMP!
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC)

In the white room, the science beaker with green liquid bursts with colours and balls and a title emerges that reads "High Jump."

Now Nykeem appears on screen sitting on a red cushion under the high jump and a caption reads "Bishop Ryan School, Hamilton, Ontario."

Nykeem says IN HIGH JUMP, THE
GOAL IS SIMPLE,
GET OVER THE BAR WITHOUT
KNOCKING IT DOWN.
IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE,
AND TECHNIQUE IS KING.
TELL 'EM, DOC!

Now Dr. Heather appears on screen with a caption that reads "Dr. Heather, Sports Scientist." She has straight, dark brown hair and wears a light pink shirt. She stands at a white desk with books and science supplies around her.

Dr. Heather says RIGHT AS ALWAYS, NYKEEM.
THE RECORD FOR HIGH
JUMP IS 2.45 METERS,
WHICH IS OVER EIGHT FEET.
THAT'S TALLER THAN A MOOSE!
TO CLEAR HEIGHTS LIKE
THAT, ATHLETES NEED
TO MANIPULATE THEIR BODY
IN JUST THE RIGHT WAY
TO MAKE SURE THEY
CLEAR THEIR GOALS.

Back on the field, Nykeem says SO STAY RIGHT HERE, SPORTS
LAB IS CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF!
(JET NOISE)

Now Jaden appears on screen with a caption that reads "Jaden." Jaden has short light brown straight hair pulled in a ponytail and wears a white tank top that reads "Jump High."

Jaden says HI, MY NAME'S JADEN.
I'M 12 YEARS OLD
AND I JUST STARTED HIGH
JUMP TWO MONTHS AGO.

Clips of Jaden doing high jump appear on screen.

Jaden says I'VE BEEN DOING GYMNASTICS
SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD,
AND BECAUSE OF THAT MY MOM SAID
I WOULD BE GOOD AT HIGH JUMP.
I LIKE HIGH JUMP BECAUSE
OF THE AMPLITUDE I GET.
THAT MEANS HEIGHT.
WHEN I'M SOARING OVER THE
BAR, I FEEL LIKE A BIRD.

Nykeem walks up to Jaden and says HEY JADEN, WELCOME
TO SPORTS LAB!

Jaden says HEY NAKEEM!

Nykeem says OK, SO FIRST THINGS FIRST.
AFTER YOU CLEAR THE BAR
AFTER A REALLY HIGH JUMP,
HOW DOES IT FEEL?

Jaden says AT FIRST I FEEL NERVOUS, BUT
WHEN I CLEAR IT I FEEL GREAT.

Nykeem says SO WHEN YOU'RE
THAT HIGH IN THE AIR,
DO YOU EVER NOTICE THE BAR?
NO, BUT SINCE I'M A GYMNAST
I'M REALLY USED TO THAT HEIGHT.
SO WHEN I GO OVER IT,
I DON'T NOTICE IT.

Jaden says SO WE'LL GET TO
JUMPING SOON, BUT FIRST
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THE SPORT'S PAST?

Nykeem says OK, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

Jaden says THEN IT'S HIGH TIME YOU
LEARNED THE HISTORY OF

Nykeem says HIGH JUMP!

Jaden says HIGH JUMP!
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC)

Back in the lab, a book opens and a title flies out that reads "History of High Jump."

Nykeem says THE ORIGINS OF
HIGH JUMP DATE BACK
TO SCOTLAND IN THE 19TH CENTURY.
BACK THEN COMPETITORS ONLY
USED THE SCISSOR TECHNIQUE,
ONE LEG TRAVELED OVER THE BAR,
THEN THE OTHER, LIKE
A PAIR OF SCISSORS.
MICHAEL SWEENEY, AN AMERICAN,
CUT OUT THE POPULARITY
OF THAT JUMP WHEN HE
INVENTED THE EASTERN CUTOFF.
NOW, PLAYERS PASSED OVER
THE BAR ON THEIR BACKS.
IN WAS DICK FOSBURY, A STUDENT
AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY,
WHO REALLY TOOK HIGH
JUMP INTO THE FUTURE.
HE INVENTED THE FOSBURY FLOP,
A TWISTY METHOD OF
CLEARING THE BAR.
THANKS TO THE FLOP, DICK WON
THE 1968 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.
NOW THAT'S NO FLOP!

Back on the field, Nykeem says OK JADEN, NOW THAT WE'RE
UP-TO-DATE ON HIGH JUMP,
WANNA SHOW ME YOUR TECHNIQUE?

Jaden says YEAH!

Nykeem runs after Jaden.

Nykeem says WAIT FOR ME!

Jaden?s coach with a black shirt and black pants directs the team of high jumpers and says LET'S GO!
(CLAPPING)

The high jumpers keep practicing and the coach says OK, KEEP COMIN'
ON, KEEP COMIN' ON.
RUN THROUGH IT, JUMP
RIGHT THROUGH THE PIT.
ALL THE WAY, JUMP UP,
RIGHT THROUGH THE PIT.
GOOD JOB!
LET'S GO!
ALL THE WAY, GOOD JOB,
GOOD JOB, NEXT, NICE!
GO TIA GO!
OK, LET'S GO BUDDY.
UHH...

Nykeem barely jumps and says I DID IT!

The coach says NOT QUITE WHAT WE
WERE LOOKING FOR, BUT.
YEAH!
COME ON.
GOOD JOB!

Nykeem says GO JADEN!

Nykeem jumps again.

The coach says THERE YOU GO.

Nykeem says NICE!

The coach says LET'S GO LET'S GO LET'S GO!
(MELLOW ROCK MUSIC)

Jaden and Nykeem sit down off the field and Nykeem says JADEN, YOU REALLY
SET THE BAR OUT THERE.

Jaden says THANKS NYKEEM.

Nykeem says YOUR FOSBURY
FLOP WAS TEXTBOOK.
IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
MANEUVER YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN?

Jaden says HMM. WHY DOES IT
HELP TO KEEP YOUR BODY
BELOW THE BAR WHEN
YOU'RE JUMPING?

Nykeem says THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
LET'S BRING IN OUR RESIDENT
SPORTS SCIENTIST, DR. HEATHER.

Nykeem looks at his watch and Dr. Heather appears on screen in the sports lab.

Dr. Heather says WELL, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
WE'LL NEED TO BRING IN AN
EXPERT TO SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS.
LUCKILY, I'VE GOT JUST
THE PERSON LINED UP.

Back on the field, Nykeem says ALRIGHT, LET'S GO.
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC)

Back in the lab, the science beaker with green liquid appears on screen with a label that reads "Pop Quiz." The bottle swirls and flies over to the blackboard with a question.

Nykeem says POP QUIZ TIME!
WHEN YOU JUMP, WHAT FORCE
PUSHES YOU TOWARDS THE GROUND?
A, GRAVITY,
B, FRICTION,
OR C, VELOCITY?

A skeleton with a red cap says THE ANSWER IS A!

Nykeem says GRAVITY.
A PLANET'S GRAVITY
DEPENDS ON HOW BIG IT IS.
THAT'S WHY YOU
CAN JUMP 2.5 TIMES
AS HIGH ON JUNIPER
THAN ON EARTH.

Back in the lab, out of the science beaker launches white foam that turns into a slate that reads "Meet the Pro."

Now Jillian appears on screen with a caption that reads "Jillian." Jillian has shoulder-length feathery blond hair pulled back in a ponytail and wears a white shirt that reads "Canada."

Jillian says MY NAME'S JILLIAN,
AND I'VE BEEN
DOING HIGH JUMP FOR 20 YEARS.
(SURF ROCK MUSIC)

Clips of Jillian doing high jump appear on screen.

Jillian says I GOT INTO HIGH JUMP
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I HAD A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
WHO WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT
AND SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO JUMP
WHEN WE WERE IN GRADE THREE.
THANKS, TEACH!
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HIGH JUMPING
IS FLYING THROUGH THE
AIR OVER THAT BAR.
IT'S SO AWESOME
BEING UP THAT HIGH,
AND THEN SEEING YOURSELF
LAND WITH THAT BAR
STILL STANDING UP
ON THE STANDARDS.
IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING FEELING.

Now Nykeem and Jaden walk up to Jillian on the track.

Nykeem says HEY JILLIAN!

Jillian says HI NYKEEM!

Nykeem says JADEN, THIS IS JILLIAN.

Jillian says HI JADEN!

Jaden says HI!

Nykeem says JILLIAN, I WAS WONDERING,
DO YOU USE THE FOSBURY FLOP?

Jillian says I ABSOLUTELY DO.
I'VE BEEN USING IT SINCE
I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD,
WHEN I FIRST STARTED
HIGH JUMPING.
AND YOU'LL FIND THAT MOST PEOPLE
IN THE HIGH JUMP WORLD,
THEY USE IT TODAY.

Nykeem says JADEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR JILLIAN?

Jaden says YES. HOW DO YOU
APPROACH THE BAR?

Jillian says WELL I LIKE TO
START MY APPROACH WITH
SOME NICE BIG LONG BOUNDY STEPS.
AND THEN AS I COME TO THE
END, WHERE IT STARTS TO CURVE,
MY STEPS GET FASTER AND
FASTER, UNTIL I TAKE OFF.

Nykeem says SO JADEN, HOW CAN
JILLIAN HELP US TODAY?

Jaden says DO YOU MIND
SHOWING US YOUR JUMP?

Jillian says SURE! BUT WHY DON'T WE START
WITH A COUPLE TIPS FIRST.
SO, WHEN WE COME INTO THE
BAR AND WE PUT OUR FOOT DOWN
NICE AND HARD, THEN YOU'RE
GONNA LIFT EVERYTHING UP
INTO THE AIR AS HIGH AS YOU CAN,
LIKE YOU'RE REACHING FOR
SOMETHING IN THE SKY.
THEN AT THE TOP OF THAT, YOU'RE
GONNA STRETCH YOUR ARMS OUT
NICE AND WIDE, RELAX EVERYTHING
OVER TOP OF THE BAR, AND
ALL OF YOUR WORK COMING IN IS
GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
STEP BACK AND LET ME
SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE.

Jillian runs and jumps over the pole.

Nykeem says WOO HOO!

Jillian says SO I'LL SHOW YOU AGAIN,
AND THIS TIME PAY ATTENTION
TO HOW QUICK MY LAST TWO
STEPS ARE WHEN I TAKE OFF.

Jillian jumps again.

Nykeem looks at his watch and says WHOA!
HEY DOC, COME IN!

Back in the sports lab, Dr. Heather says HEY TEAM, I THINK I'VE
JUMPED TO THE RIGHT CONCLUSION.
THE REASON THE FOSBURY
FLOP GETS JILLIAN
OVER THE BAR, IS BECAUSE
OF SOMETHING COOL
CALLED THE CENTER OF MASS.
THE CENTER OF MASS IS
THE POINT ON YOUR BODY
WHERE WEIGHT IS
PERFECTLY BALANCED.
IT CHANGES FROM
PERSON TO PERSON,
BUT IT'S USUALLY
NEAR YOUR WAIST.
IN HIGH JUMP, IF YOU WERE
TO USE A STRADDLE TECHNIQUE,
YOUR CENTER OF MASS TRAVELS
OVER TOP OF THE BAR.
THEREFORE, IT TAKES MORE
ENERGY TO MAKE THAT JUMP.
BUT WHEN JILLIAN USES DICK
FOSBURY'S REVOLUTIONARY METHOD,
HER CENTER OF MASS STAYS
BELOW THE BAR THE ENTIRE JUMP.
THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN JILLIAN
ARCHES HER BACK OVER THE BAR,
HER CENTER OF MASS IS
ACTUALLY BELOW HER BODY.
SINCE JILLIAN'S CENTER
OF MASS IS BELOW THE BAR,
SHE DOESN'T NEED TO JUMP AS
HIGH, AND CAN SAVE ENERGY.
SO KEEP YOUR CENTER
OF MASS BELOW THE BAR,
AND YOU'LL END UP ON TOP.

Back on the field, Nykeem says WELL TEAM, IT SOUNDS
LIKE EVEN THOUGH
YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY
MAY NOT CLEAR THE BAR,
YOU CAN STILL CLEAR
THE COMPETITION.
JADEN, YOU WANT TO
SHOW US YOUR SKILLS?

Jaden says SURE, STEP BACK.
(SURF ROCK)

Jaden runs and jumps over the pole.

Nykeem says WOO!

Jaden says NYKEEM, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!

Nykeem says ARE YOU GUYS READY
FOR MY TECHNIQUE?

Nykeem runs and jumps stomach first over the pole.

Jaden says YEAH LET'S DO THIS.
WHOA!
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC)

Back in the lab, the green liquid in the science beaker spills and then dries up to reveal a title that reads "Fun Fact."

Now Nykeem appears on screen and says EXERCISE IS GREAT
FOR THE BODY, AND MIND.
AND DID YOU KNOW THAT
THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES?
THEY'RE CALLED
AEROBIC, AND ANAEROBIC.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
AEROBIC EXERCISE, LIKE
JOGGING OR SWIMMING,
PRODUCES ENEGRY THROUGH OXYGEN.
WITH EVERY BREATH, (BREATHES)
YOU'RE POWERING YOUR MUSCLES.
ANAEROBIC EXERCISE, LIKE
TUG-OF-WAR OR SPRINTING,
IS SHORTER AND MORE
INTENSE, SO YOUR BREATHING
ISN'T AS REGULAR (PANTING).
THAT'S WHY YOU HUFF AND PUFF
AFTER ANAEROBIC EXERCISE.
YOUR BODY IS TAKING IN ALL
THE OXYGEN IT WOULD HAVE USED.
SO DO YOUR BODY A FAVOR,
AND BREATHE DEEP. (BREATHES)
TIME FOR ANAEROBIC EXERCISE.

Back on the field, Nykeem says JADEN, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT HIGH JUMP UNTIL TODAY.
BUT AFTER LEARNING FROM YOU,
I'M READY TO GO FOR
MY PERSONAL BEST.

Jaden says JUST REMEMBER TO
TAKE BOUNCY STEPS,
TWO FAST STEPS, THROW YOUR
HANDS UP, AND GO OVER.
GOOD LUCK!

Jaden looks at Nykeem in slow motion and Nykeem runs and jumps over the pole on his back successfully.

(CELEBRATORY MUSIC)

Back in the lab, colours and balls fly out of the science beaker and a slate reads "Pro Tip."

Now Jillian appears on screen and says WHEN I WAS LEARNING
HOW TO HIGH JUMP,
SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPED ME
WAS LEARNING HOW IMPORTANT
MY APPROACH IS TO THE JUMP.
EVERYBODY ALWAYS
THINKS THAT YOU HAVE TO
PUT A LOT OF WORK IN
OVER TOP OF THE BAR
IN TRYING TO CHANGE YOUR BODY
IN ALL THESE DIRECTIONS, BUT
REALLY WHAT YOU DO COMING INTO
IT IS WHAT MAKES THE JUMP.
SO GETTING A NICE FAST APPROACH,
A NICE SMOOTH CURVE RUN,
AND THEN EXTENDING YOUR BODY
REALLY HIGH ON THAT TAKEOFF
IS GOING TO DO ALL
THE WORK FOR YOU.
I'M JILLIAN, AND
THAT'S MY PRO-TIP.

Nykeem walks along the bleachers and says TODAY IN THE LAB WE
AIMED HIGH, BUT MANAGED
TO STAY CENTERED THANKS TO
OUR GOOD FRIEND GRAVITY.
WE ALSO MADE NEW FRIENDS AND
HAD FUN, WHICH IS NEVER A FLOP.
NOW I'M OFF, BUT HEY,
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
IN THE SPORTS LAB WE'RE
ALWAYS IN THE HUDDLE,
AND LEARNING IS NO STRUGGLE.

The credits roll scenes of kids playing sports appear on screen.

Written and directed by, Johnny Mitchell.
Host, Nykeem Provo.
Editor, David Mitchell.

Produced in association with TVO Kids for riverbank pictures, copyright 1919216 Ontario Inc.