The purpose of this study was to determine biomechanical factors that contribute to vertical jump performance. Two groups of college age females with limited jumping experience performed vertical jumps over a four week period. One group jumped with arm swing (JWA; n=10) the other group jumped without arm swing (JNA; n=9). Differences in total body and segmental factors between the highest and lower vertical jumps were examined. Reaction forces at the feet were quantified using force plates (1200 Hz), segment kinematics were acquired using video (60 Hz), and joint kinetic variables were computed using inverse dynamics. At the total body level, no significant differences in average net vertical force, propulsion duration, and body mass were found between the highest and the average of five lower JWA. At the segmental level, no significant differences in average net joint moment at the hip, knee, and ankle during propulsion were found between the highest and a representative lower JWA jumps. Mechanical analysis of the highest and representative lower trials performed by each participant indicated an increase in flight height was achieved by creating greater relative segment vertical velocity contributions through the interaction of summed net joint moments and summed net joint force moments that act on the segments, and changes in segment angular position. Results suggest these participants used more than one biomechanical factor to increase flight height. The same results were found when testing for significant differences between the highest and the lower JNA jumps. To determine the influence of arm swing on vertical jump performance, maximum flight height and variables associated with the coordination and control of a vertical jump were quantified. Differences between the JWA group’s and JNA group’s highest vertical jumps were compared. The results indicated that flight height for the JWA group was greater than for the JNA group. Greater JWA flight height was achieved by creating greater relative segment vertical velocity contributions during propulsion through changes in trunk, thigh, and shank angular positions, velocities, and accelerations. Differences in coordination and control indicated that JWA could be characterized as a more sequential movement than JNA.