1	Coaching Fundamentals for the High School Pole Vault Bob Phillips Virginia Tech
2	Resources Sky Jumpers (Jan Johnson) http://www.skyjumpers.com Beginner to Bubka by Alan Lander http://www.beginnertobubka.com Pole Vault Safety Certification Board http://www.pvscb.com Pole Vault Education Initiative http://www.pvei.com summer camps and local clubs
3	Today's Agenda An overall Philosophy A pole vault progression * Common High school Mistakes Fiberglass corrections Safety Issues Questions and answers * most pv progressions are very similar. The one presented here is based largely on the progression taught at the skyjumper camps.
4	Overall Philosophy Keys The vault should be taught as a progression of skills and relearned frequently as a progression Eash step in the progression must be learned well enough to be done with control Benefits Vaulters that are consistent performers Vaulters that are safe performers Vaulters that have a foundation to jump higher
5	Pole Carry Proper Carry Tip at about 6 feet (at start of plant) hands 12" to 24" apart (narrow when first learning) both arms bent right hand near back pocket V of fingers and thumb on left hand facing up Chest facing forward Pole facing forward Small up and down movement Common Mistakes Tip too high Arms straight instead of bent back hand too far back false grip on left hand large back and forth motion of pole when running
6	Final Plant Position
7	Three Step Walking Plant The Three steps SHIFT (pole moves forward and wrists start to flip over) AND (Pole raises to forehead) JUMP (press up overhead and jump) Keys to Success 1000 repetitions at different speeds and runs (lots of 3, 4, and 5 left runs) mops, brooms, and baseball bats emphasize pushing hands UP at take-off Common Mistakes late plant bottom hand blocking running with pole in plant position shift too low (should be at chest level)
8	Three Step Plant
9	Jump Overs (fast video, slowmo) Establish the Standing Grip Execute the three step plant jump up and over the tip The drill finishes with the pole in the left armpit emphasize jumping up repeat with higher grips and longer runs (mostly 3, 4, and 5 lefts) When Running there should be a slight up and down movement of the pole. Avoid back and forth movement
10	Tip Touches (fast video, slowmo) Hold standing grip plus one fist Execute three step plant Jump the pole to verticle but let the tip touch the ground Ride the pole forward a few feet Repeat with higher grips Keys to success jump up aggressively lead jump with the chest hold the take off position for the whole drill land facing the same way as when you took off stay behind the pole Common Mistakes pulling body up on the pole (should just hand from top hand) not staying behind the pole long enough
11	Uprights into Pit Hold Standing Grip Plus 2 feet Execute a three LEFT run and plant Jump up just as in the Tip Touch Drill Hold the take Off position and land standing on the pit Keys to Success Athlete should take off approximately six inches outside of their top hand Do NOT block, keep left elbow out
12	Swing to Back (fast video, slowmo) Three or Four Left Run Jump up and extend the left leg back Whip the left leg forward and up Land on back DEEP in the pit, still holding the pole, still in a figure 4 position (right knee up) keys to success aggressive jump up at take-off don't block with bottom arm land with feet facing back of pit take off step several inches behind top hand (for a full run this take off step will come in to be below the top hand) Common Mistakes top hand not all the way up and over head at take-off bent trail leg lead knee drops flat spins
13	Swing to Back with Bend (fast video, slowmo) From four lefts holding standing grip plus about 3 to 3.5 feet Select a short body weight pole Same drill as swing to back but with just a little pressure on the bottom hand and just a little bend (about 9" to 18" of deflection) Example 150 pound vaulter Hold about 10'3" on an 11' 150 pole Common Mistakes trying to straighten bottom arm bend trail leg flat spin not letting shoulders drop back in-line with pole
14	4 lefts with bungee & turn (fast video, slowmo) Start with turn drills on the ground Progress to 4 left flex pole drill with ¼ turn Put a LOW bungee up and move the handgrip up one fist and if needed move up one pole Keys to success initiate the turn with the right leg emphasize being belly to the bungee as the athlete clears (i.e. turn early) Common Mistakes flat spins ("turntable" turns)
15	Make the Vault Bigger (fast video, slowmo) Slowly move the vaulter to longer runs and higher grips Stay on a pole weighted for that vaulter. Retreat to shorter runs and lower grips when the vault technique breaks down Emphasize swing and inversion
16	Practice Hints Video tape as often as possible and show jumpers their video between jumps if possible Make the vaulter clear A LOT of low bungees in each practice. A vaulter should be able to jump a bar 18" below their PR at least six out of ten attempts. Make the vaulter jump at higher bungees every practice to force them to extend upwards. Recognize when at athlete is tired and stop at that point or at least retreat to a shorter run.
17	A few safety considerations Get Certified! High school vaulters should jump with small bends. Large bends are: more difficult to control more likely to result in broken poles totally unnecessary for guys jumping less than about 16' or girls jumping less than about 12'6" usually a sign of griping too high Catch poles! Damaged poles are the primary reason they break. Transport and store poles in a tube.
18	A few safety considerations (cont) Only jump on regulation pits with base protectors and box collars in place. If an athlete does not land in the coaches box this is a warning sign. Just once may indicate a minor technical correction is needed. Twice in a row or repeatedly over a number of attempts requires a retreat to a lower grip, smaller pole, and/or shorter run. Consider a helmet requirement. In meets and in practice the first jumps of the day should be on a smaller pole with a lower grip, and generally with a shorter run. Never "tap" a vaulter in practice or competition
19	Fiberglass Safety Corrections
20	Most Detremental High School Mistakes An Overall Lack of Control Taking off under Too much left arm (blocking) Holding too high Bent Trail Leg Throwing Head Back
21	Error: Under Take-off
22	Error: Blocking
23	Error: Blocking
24	Error: Trail Leg Bent
25	Error: Throwing Head Back