Measuring steps

A forum to discuss pole vault technique as it relates to beginning vaulters. If you have been jumping less than a year, this is the forum for you.

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ACvault
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Measuring steps

Unread postby ACvault » Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:25 am

Hey, my indoor season just started and I'll get to start vaulting monday, unfortunately I haven't been able to vault since skyjumpers camp in july. Could someone please tell me the way to get your steps without running them back and use the meaurement way instead?

Also since I am the teams only vaulter my head coach asked if I new a new pole. I have no idea what I'll be vaulting since we never get standards out for practice. I have to double check but I think my weight is about 135-140 and I'm 5'9. My pr as a sophomore was 9'6. (I'm a guy and I know that is not that great but any help would be appreciated since I basically never get to vault in practice)

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Unread postby OUvaulterUSAF » Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:18 pm

I normally double my height and that gives me a 2 stride length. So being 5' 10" x 2 is 11' 8" but I know I sprint pretty fast so I round up to 12'. If my take off is at 12' then a 6 step approach is 36' +/- 1'. Once you're consistent you'll remember in your mind what your 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...left approach is. Of course when you move your grip height the rule is always up one handgrip is equal to half a foot away from the pit, vice versa for lowering your grip.
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Unread postby dj » Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:29 pm

hey

have you guys read the info from the "MID" chart? i think it's still .posted

or ladyvolscoach has posted in detail...

or e-mail me i'll send the details...

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Unread postby stavhoppare » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:07 pm

THE APPROACH IN THE LONG JUMP, TRIPLE JUMP AND POLE VAULT

THE TWO HORIZONTAL JUMPING EVENTS AND THE POLE VAULT SHARE MUCH IN APPROACH MECHANICS. THE APPROACH ALLOWS THE ATHLETE TO DEVELOP SPEED, TEMPO AND PROPER BODY POSITION TO ACHIEVE AN EFFICIENT TAKE OFF. AT ALL TIMES, THE ATHLETE MUST STRIVE TO BE A SPRINTER, USING PROPER SPRINT MECHANICS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CONCEPTS REGARDING THE APPROACH THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
STEERING
FOR YOUNG ATHLETES OR THOSE JUST LEARNING THE EVENT, A SHORT APPROACH (15-20 M) IS RECOMMENDED. THE CONCEPT OF STEERING OR GETTING A FEEL FOR THE DISTANCE (SPATIAL AWARENESS) ALLOWS THE ATHLETE TO MAKE SUBTLE CHANGES IN THE STRIDE PATTERNS AS MIGHT BE NEEDED LATER ON IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE APPROACH. AT THIS STAGE, THERE IS NO REAL NEED TO RUN A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF STEPS. IF THE ATHLETE SEEMS TO STRIDE OUT OR SHORTEN (CHOP) TO ACHIEVE THE PROPER TAKE OFF, THE COACH MAY SUGGEST MOVING THE STARTING POINT OF THE APPROACH FORWARD OR BACKWARD.

AS THE ATHLETE DEVELOPS A CONSISTENT STRIDE PATTERN AND EFFICIENT SPRINT MECHANICS, A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF STEPS CAN BE SET FOR A MORE PRECISE APPROACH.
SPEED
ONE CONCEPT TO BE UNDERSTOOD IS THE FASTER ATHLETE WILL NEED MORE DISTANCE (LONGER APPROACH) TO REACH TOP SPEED WHILE THE SLOWER JUMPER SHOULD USE A SHORTER APPROACH. A SLOW JUMPER MAY BE ABLE TO DEVELOP TOP SPEED IN JUST A FEW STRIDES WHILE TOP SPRINTERS REACH MAXIMUM VELOCITY FROM 40 M. TO 60 M. FROM THE START. AS MOST YOUNG, DEVELOPING JUMPERS DO NOT POSSESS GREAT SPEED, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY USE A SHORTER APPROACH UNTIL THEY DEVELOP BETTER STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY AND SPRINT MECHANICS.

THE ATHLETE SHOULD STRIVE TO ATTAIN MAXIMUM SPEED (FOR THE APPROACH BEING USED) THROUGH THE TAKE OFF. WE HAVE OFTEN HEARD THE TERM “MAXIMUM CONTROLED SPEEDâ€Â
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Unread postby stavhoppare » Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:09 pm

Sorry the chart on the above post did not come out as it is in exel format. I will try to get it in another way.
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Unread postby EIUvltr » Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:14 pm

stavhoppare, you went 5.40m in 1969? Either you are Paul Wilson, Bobby Seagren or John Pennel, because I don't know many other guys going that high back then. Care to enlighten us to your identity?
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Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:31 pm

EIUvltr wrote:stavhoppare, you went 5.40m in 1969? Either you are Paul Wilson, Bobby Seagren or John Pennel, because I don't know many other guys going that high back then. Care to enlighten us to your identity?


You weren't even alive back then :P

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Unread postby PVGrl2407 » Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:34 pm

Hey! Well Tim Johnson (Jan's bro) is my coach and he always tells us to do twice our height when moving back our approach, just like Air Force said. Whatever you do, I'd stay away from the whole running back thing...it's not very accurate. 2x my height has always worked for me.

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Re: Measuring steps

Unread postby Vault Chick » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:08 am

[quote="ACvault"]Hey, my indoor season just started and I'll get to start vaulting monday, unfortunately I haven't been able to vault since skyjumpers camp in july."

Hey, you were at that camp!!! So was I! What was your name, maybe I'll remember u!! lol
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Unread postby PVGrl2407 » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:00 am

the one at Bloom High School? Yep I was there! My name's Melissa.

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Unread postby ACvault » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:45 pm

PVGrl2407 wrote:Hey! Well Tim Johnson (Jan's bro) is my coach and he always tells us to do twice our height when moving back our approach, just like Air Force said. Whatever you do, I'd stay away from the whole running back thing...it's not very accurate. 2x my height has always worked for me.


So If I'm 5'9, my approach should be 11'6 from my takeoff point?

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Unread postby OUvaulterUSAF » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:52 pm

No, your take-off point should be directly under (or little outside) where you are holding on the pole.
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