The Pole Vault Project

International Coaches’ Survey International Coaches’ Survey Response Comparison – Rough Draft Preliminary Summary of Survey at 3^rd European PV Conference - Köln International Athlete’s Survey	A Site devoted to the improvement of international pole vault coaching and performance through the cooperative sharing by coaches and sports scientists of pedagogical, technical, and training ideas, scientific research, and experiential knowledge. The age-old issue of communication between coaches – athletes – scientists can be better addressed with cooperation and interaction, so that all parties can serve their respective role more successfully and the world pole vaulting community can benefit. This site is being expanded into a wiki / forum site where coaches and athletes can link, upload, and download files, articles, charts, video clips, research data, scientific studies, etc. This site is now up and starting HERE, but due to our server rules at the host school, all outside input must be submitted through email and the team will post information, documents, etc. Coaches’ Response of the Week	David F. Johnston’s “Physical Model” for a 6.20m Vault Click for 4.30 and 4.90 Physical Vault Models David Johnston’s 6 Stride Checkmark / Acceleration Step Pattern – Great Tools for Approach Development and competition adjustments! (Article from NACACTFCA Bulletin)
Youth / High School Coaches’ Survey
USA High School Beginner Coaches (Houston area) Survey Summary Email: rmercado@sjs.org Most Mentioned Books on Pole Vaulting More links below right>>>
	USA National Pole Vault Summit - Reno (past presentations to come…)
	3^rd European Pole Vault Conference Presentations
	Take-Off and Fly Away (Stabhochsprung) (Great Video Comparison Clips!)
	PoleVaultPower.com (great Coaches’ Forum!)
	Letter from Becca Gillespy re: PV Death and Safety

Please email Richie Mercado at rmercado@sjs.org if you have questions or comments!

With Vitali Petrov in Formia	My sons with Yelena Isinbayeva in Formia	With Herbert Czingon in Mainz
Sergey Bubka at Köln PV Conference

Coaches’ Response of the Week:

Please send any comment or response to rmercado@sjs.org for posting (until Forum is up and running!)

April 7, 2008 Do you follow a particular “Model” of vaulting?	“I identify primarily with the Petrov Model but would draw in aspects from other techniques that I consider compliment the Petrov Model. For example I think that the Petrov technique for pole present two steps out is very difficult for most athletes but the aim of having both arms up over the head, of "opening" the shoulders and then "closing" them after take off via a pressing action, is a must. Therefore I prefer the conventional left arm forward and up action from the French model for the present, but I don't like the rigid left arm that the French use after take off. In summary I will mix-and-match, but I am using primarily the Petrov Model.”
April 14, 2008 Do biomechanists identify and explain ideal motion, or simply describe what vaulters do?	“As a researcher, I agree with the fact that research in sports (whatever the domain: exercise physiology, psychology or biomechanics) could help coaches. The most difficult thing is to apply on the field a result obtained in a laboratory with very controlled conditions. But in the case of biomechanics, these researchers explain scientifically, with an elegant approach, different phases of the jump or the distribution of the energy between the vaulter and the pole. Biomechanists study and confirm what athletes do.”
April 21, 2008 What things most get in the way of successful vaulting?	“Yes, actions in the jump can easily hinder the result. It is so easy to inadvertently absorb energy, but at lower heights can be done to "save" a situation. Ideally, all actions contribute. I'd say steering the last steps in an approach, and driving too long (to correct poor pole speed) are the usual culprits for what could have been a good jump. For just plain common errors, bad approach, plant (low, late) and takeoff (flat) are common, and of course, the majority of vaulters don't invert fully.”
April 29, 2008 What do you do to teach your athletes how to win?	Paraphrased by editor: “I have heard coaches talk during this conference about technique and biomechanics, about models and training, but I have heard no one talk about winning, how to go out and win a competition! Only Sergey Bubka has talked about that! What do you do to teach your athletes how to win?” Comment during presentation from Greg Hull, USA Pole Vault – 3^rd European PV Conference

Most Mentioned Books on Pole Vaulting (in Coaching Surveys):

1. Richard Ganslen, Mechanics of the Pole Vault (1961)

2. Guy Kochel, Practical Coaching Techniques for the Pole Vault (1978?)

3. Alan Launder, Beginner to Bubka (2^nd edition 2007)

Pole Vaulters, 
 
It is with sadness that I write to inform you all of the recent death of Ryan Moberg, a high school pole vaulter in Walla Walla, Washington, due to injuries he suffered at pole vault practice. You can find more information here: 
http://polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14481 
 
In discussing pole vault safety with Jan Johnson, the National Safety Chair for USA Track & Field Pole Vault Development, a few issues concern me. Generally, with pole vault injuries, we tend to have multiple catastrophic injuries in one year, then a few years with none, then multiple in the same year. Late March and the entire month of April are the most dangerous time of year for the sport due to the highest participation rates. 
 
Many of you may be relatively new to the sport and do not remember 2002 when there were four catastrophic injuries, three resulting in death within our sport. Since then, many within the pole vault community have worked hard to come up with standards to make the pole vault safer. 
 
Pits are now required to be bigger and education and coaching certification opportunities have increased. According to Jan Johnson, since 2002, the rate of catastrophic injuries has improved from an average of nearly 2 per year to less than .5 per year, and all catastrophic injuries since 2002 were a result of non-compliance with the rules. 
 
Unfortunately, many have grown complacent since then. I constantly see pictures and videos posted to my website of kids vaulting at unsafe facilities. I hear stories from all over the country of illegal pits, no padding around the pit and other unsafe conditions. 
 
This has to stop! As a sport we cannot afford to have any more catastrophic injuries this year. Pole vault is close to extinction in several states, they are just looking for an excuse to drop it. 
 
 
There are two basic components of pole vault safety: facilities and technique. 
 
Facilities are an easy variable to control and demand constant attention. 
 
It is crucial that at every meet and every practice you vault at a facility that is setup according to the rules: 
1. The pit needs to meet the minimum dimensions for high school or college rules: i.e. 19’8 wide X 16’5 behind the back of the planting box, with front buns extending minimally to the front of the planting box. 
2. A common top cover that holds the system together. 
3. Pad the area around the planting box so that no hard surfaces exist in this very critical area. 
4. Pad the standard bases in this highly critical area. 
5. Pad or remove any and all hard surfaces around the landing pit. 
 
These are not optional. If you travel to a school that cannot meet these requirements, don't jump!!! I believe the high school rules require a school that is unable to provide a legal setup to forfeit all points for that event. It is not worth risking your life to try and get another PR or to score a few points for your team. 
 
Most of the deaths and catastrophic injuries in the pole vault have occurred from vaulters hitting their head on a hard surface around the pit. We need to do everything we can to find ways to cover these surfaces. Additionally, all pole vaulting and vault related drills must be done in a way so as to assure that the vaulter lands in the center of the landing pads. 
 
Here are a few basic principles about pole vault technique we should all keep in mind to keep the sport safer: 
 
 
1. Your number one goal is to land in the middle of the pit every time. This is more important than clearing the bar! 
Vaulters: EVERY time you have a jump that does not land in the middle of the pit, you need to ask your coach WHY and make adjustments to fix it! 
 
2. Select a grip height and pole size that conforms to your abilities. It is better to grip lower and land safely in the pit than to grip too high and land in the box. 
 
3. Be safety selective about your jumping, so that you do not pole vault when the weather, wind, or facilities make it too dangerous. 
 
4. Do not participate in the now outlawed practice of tapping. 
 
5. Place more emphasis on clearing bars a greater distance above your grip and less emphasis on gripping high. 
 
6. Educate yourself constantly. Go to camps and clinics. Buy books and DVDs. Talk to other coaches. The best coaches are constantly trying to get better. The worst coaches think they know it all. If you need help finding a camp or want advice on good books/DVDs I would be happy to offer it. b
 
Please forward this email to everyone you know involved with the pole vault. It is crucial that we come together as a community to make the sport safer and prevent any more lives from being lost doing what we love.
 
Becca Gillespy
Pole Vault Power
http://www.polevaultpower.com/
becca@polevaultpower.com