PoleVaultPower.com

Hello, I wrote a post a little bit ago but I realize it is a ramble at best...Here's my new question.

A vaulter is running from 5L on a 14' 155, holding 12'9ish and weighs 150. However he seems to bring his trail leg in right after takeoff and swings too quickly. He gets a nice bend, not too much, but seems to get his hips sucked in. As a result, he has been landing shalllow - 17" standards. He seems to curl in towards the box while on top/releasing and lands closer (never before the slant of the pits). I realize his step could be back a tad and he could be taller at takeoff and lead with his chest to drive more into the pit. This explains why he would be shallow and curling in after the peak right. His momentum is stopped (and he is prpobably pushing his chest while releasing the pole). I am going over takeoff with him (sliding box) today but am puzzled. I am thinking of dropping his grip 3" until he gets in, and until he fixes this 'error'. Once he does I plan to raise grip to 13' at most, then go back a left and move up to a 14' 165 with a starting grip of 12'9". Does this make sense or should I be focusing on/doing something else?

Any help would be great. This vaulter has been doing this for 2 years, usually peaking early and curling in shallow (15 1/2" - 23" are his standards usually). They get farther back as the season goes on but I hate having him be near the minimum. He's never in the box but it still worries me...

trial leg. keep it swinging to keep his body moving forward and keep the pole moving. then when the pole uncoils from the bend, he'll be deeper and the problem should be mostly sloved.

if he does get a better trail leg, he'll have to move up in pole's, but the end result will be noticable.

good luck

Get him on some rings so he gets the feel of adding energy with a swing, rather than "sitting" on the pole and having his hips get sucked under. Im sure some of the other coaches will have something to say, but thats the first thing i think of. Good luck!

The old US problem! Vaulters do not learn to stay BEHIND the pole early in their career in both stiff and flexible pole drills. Cf BTB DVD. Unless they do this they are never in position to execute the long (legged) whipping swing around the hands which is essential to effective vaulting.

Well we jumped today and here's the scoop. From 5 lefts on the 14' 155, holding 12'6" he was not getting in well from not generating enough speed. So he moved back to a 6 left approach and went up to the 14' 165 holding 12'3/6" (thinking he would have too much for the 14' 155) but the result was the same lack of penetration as jumping on the 14' 155. He'll probably need 7 lefts for the 14'' 165.

So he went down to the 14' 155 but stayed at 6 lefts and holding 12'6 and right away there was a big difference. The bend was decent and the penetation was to the middle of the pit. His max grip went to 12'9" from the 6 lefts and he had some god attempts at 13'. He tired out and slowed down and was getting shallower as the practice wore on but it was a good day. I'm trying to have him keep the press out longer and actively swing his trail leg from back all the way to the sky. Thanks for the ideas...

I figure when he improves his run/speed as the season moves on, he will be able to shorten up a left for each pole (come back to 5 lefts for the 14' 155 and stay at 6 for the 14' 165).

altius wrote:The old US problem! Vaulters do not learn to stay BEHIND the pole early in their career in both stiff and flexible pole drills. Cf BTB DVD. Unless they do this they are never in position to execute the long (legged) whipping swing around the hands which is essential to effective vaulting.

I am just starting BTB, I am sure I will learn a ton. Keeping his hips behind and leading with his chest is so vital...Sure wish I had this guy from scratch. Bad habits are hard to break...Thanks for the advice.

I would say, if hes not ready for the 165, no worries. Have him keep doing everything on the 155 holding 12'9. Wait for him to build some confidence and muscle habits you way you want. Then when he is finally ready for the 165 he will be doing everything right.

You could even wait until hes going through the 155 from 6 steps really well, and try to get him on the 5 step again. Then the 6 will build even more confidence for the 165. Just a thought though.