 The first recorded instances of high jumping competitions were in Scotland in the 19th century . Further competitions were organised in 1840 in England and in 1865 the basic rules of the modern event were standardised there . Athletes have a short run up and then take off from one foot to jump over a horizontal bar and fall back onto a <unk> landing area . The men 's high jump was included in the 1896 Olympics and a women 's competition followed in 1928 . 
