new HSF rules on tapping

[Russ]

I have a very strong opinion about the rule. I think that it is a good one. I would go so far as to say that taps are always bad...practice, warm ups, you name it. Confidence in this sport should come from achieving on our own, not from physical assistance. Once a vaulter begins to rely on tapping, s/he won't feel confident without the tap. Some observers at the meet where Kevin Dare died have told me that Kevin was "addicted" to taps, and that he'd been getting tapped throughout the warmups that day. Then, when he tried to jump in competition, he came up way short - why? - at least in part because he didn't have the extra boost from the tap.

Tapping is dangerous and I think it exposes a coach to serious liability.

[Robert schmitt]

I think the dangerous aspect of tapping which happens very frequently is the vaulter moves up a pole, is geting a big tap, the coach or tapper says "yeah! your moving the pole great! I was barely pushing you! you'll smoke this pole!" (triing to build there confidence when they actully can't move the pole) Then the meet starts and low and behold the vaulter stalls out and crashes. I think it's the advise of the idiot giving the tap is more dangerous than the practice of tapping that is dangerous. I feel that tapping isn't neccessary the issue, bad judgement by the coach or person giving the tap is the problem. Banning tapping is not going to change poor coaching. You should not be using a pole in a compittion that you can not roll into the pit and clear a bar (on your own) with the standards at any closer than 70cm. IMO

There were certain coaches out here that in prior years would give huge taps and tell there vaulters they were doing great. Well, last year most of the meet officials told them they could not tap thier vaulters. It didn't change much they sitll had thier kids holding way to high on to big of pole get regected back on the runway. makes me sick to watch.

Some where I read or heard about the Idea of giveing a vaulter 2-3 strikes (stall outs) and your out of the meet. I like this idea b/c this will force athletes and coaches to lower girps and vault on poles that are managable to the vaulter (banning taps doesn't acomplish this) or they won't vault!!

[ashcraftpv]

The only time i ever use "taps" are when I have a vaulter doing a drill for transitioning from straight pole-ing to bending. Its not even a real tap, but a push-plant drill where i push them on into the mats instead of lowering them back down to the ground. Plus, these are all only from 2-3 lefts and I only push when i see that they are not carrying enough momentum to make it into the mats. A vaulter should never need a tap when going from a full run. ever.

[swtvault]

I think the dangerous aspect of tapping which happens very frequently is the vaulter moves up a pole, is geting a big tap, the coach or tapper says "yeah! your moving the pole great! I was barely pushing you! you'll smoke this pole!" (triing to build there confidence when they actully can't move the pole) Then the meet starts and low and behold the vaulter stalls out and crashes.

Couldnt agree more with ya Robert. That and when coaches tell vaulters to move up a pole because "that one bent too much and it wont throw you!ell yeah, you landed right behind the box, but that pole is just way too soft," have probably killed or injured more pole vaulters than anything combined. Think about what that means people, the pole bends alot, moves slow, and you land shallow....HOW IN THE WORLD IS THE POLE TOO SMALL!!!! Going up a pole will cause you to land even closer to the box (or even in it!) Think about the whole scheme here......We'll make force and resistance the variables. The vaulters speed is obviously the force, and the resistance is of course the pole! Obviously, this given jump the force the vaulter applied was lacking, hence the shallow landing. Now, lets add more resistance to a jump that clearly lacked force, and what do we have? Quite possibly another dead or hospitalized vaulter.

Anyone ever notice that the vaulters from any particular school are always all over the place, year after year? I have. I also know that there is a very good reason for that. I have also noticed many clubs and schools who have vaulters that land smack dab in the center of the pit 99% of the time. There is also a very good reason for that. I'll even give you a hint, it doesnt happen by accident.

[Carolina Extreme]

Anyone ever notice that the vaulters from any particular school are always all over the place, year after year? I have. I also know that there is a very good reason for that. I have also noticed many clubs and schools who have vaulters that land smack dab in the center of the pit 99% of the time. There is also a very good reason for that. I'll even give you a hint, it doesnt happen by accident.

I cringe every year at Adidas Outdoor Championships when we see vaulters, some of the top ones from around the country, nearly miss that great bid round UCS pit at NC State. I can't help but wonder what size pits they were jumping on at home. They come down on the standards, by the box, and bounce off the side of the pit every year.

Not that we need reminding.... The pit is soft and the ground is hard. The center of the pit is the safest spot of all. Do not grip any higher than you can control to land you in the middle of the pit every vault.

[vaultdad]

The only time i ever use "taps" are when I have a vaulter doing a drill for transitioning from straight pole-ing to bending. Its not even a real tap, but a push-plant drill where i push them on into the mats instead of lowering them back down to the ground. Plus, these are all only from 2-3 lefts and I only push when i see that they are not carrying enough momentum to make it into the mats. A vaulter should never need a tap when going from a full run. ever.

This doesn't sound like a "tap" to me. It sounds like a smart coach.

I've seen "taps" that were practically a weight lifting exhibition.