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Hello All,

I am coaching a couple beginner vaulters. They both seem to be having a problem that I haven't run into too much. We have just started straight poles from 3 lefts in the pit and everything looks great and as soon as the take off their hips and chest immediately get sucked into the pole like a magnet thus stopping the pole and causing the rest to be a moot point. I have been emphasizing moving hands up and foward continuously through take-off and moving the pole to vertical. I also have been doing lots of slide box and sand pit stuff.

Just wanted to check with all the experts whether I'm on the right track and if anyone has any other advice. Thanks.

Jeff

Can they do it correctly into the sand pit?

I would say they could do it better, but only from 2 lefts. Only reason we moved to pit was to compete in a meet.

I would say lower their grip.

fishman4god wrote:I would say lower their grip.

Agreed! Drop the grip until the form improves, then raise it a few fingers at a time while maintaining a good takeoff.

Don't rush into the first meet, it's better to build a good foundation and skip a few meets than rush to get them over a bar and build a lot of bad habits.

I think the problem I see especially with the girls is that the grip is so low to start that it creates an angle where it is very difficult, if not impossible to get their left hand high. Does anyone else have this problem?

jam354 wrote:I think the problem I see especially with the girls is that the grip is so low to start that it creates an angle where it is very difficult, if not impossible to get their left hand high. Does anyone else have this problem?

Make their grip narrower, you can even do it with the fists together if you slide the pole down the runway.

Great idea! Thanks I'll give it a shot

A couple of questions. Do your vaulters pull with their tops hand/arm after takeoff? This will force their hips forward every time. Second, during sand vaults, do you tell your vaulter to catch their left hip on the pole through the sand vault? This teaches them to stay behind the pole. Look at Dave Butlers video in the Development section of this board. Vaulters need a long straight leg at takeoff. Also, post a couple of videos of your vaulters doing these drills. let the vast knowledge on this board help you out.

Good Luck.

Side note: just started using the app ubersense and it is an awesome tool for coaches. You can take video with your iPhone and then analyze and send to the athlete. Check it out.

Anyway, in analyzing videos of the sand vault, I noticed that the problem was that one girl was taking off with her left arm completely collapsed which was causing her hips to come forward immediately after take off. I have videos but I have to figure out how to get them on here.

vcpvcoach wrote:A couple of questions. Do your vaulters pull with their tops hand/arm after takeoff? This will force their hips forward every time. Second, during sand vaults, do you tell your vaulter to catch their left hip on the pole through the sand vault? This teaches them to stay behind the pole. Look at Dave Butlers video in the Development section of this board. Vaulters need a long straight leg at takeoff. Also, post a couple of videos of your vaulters doing these drills. let the vast knowledge on this board help you out.

Good Luck.

They were not pulling and they were catching their hip, just immediately after take off which was stopping the pole

jam354 wrote:Side note: just started using the app ubersense and it is an awesome tool for coaches. You can take video with your iPhone and then analyze and send to the athlete. Check it out.

Anyway, in analyzing videos of the sand vault, I noticed that the problem was that one girl was taking off with her left arm completely collapsed which was causing her hips to come forward immediately after take off. I have videos but I have to figure out how to get them on here.

The left arm shouldn't be doing much during the drill. You can do the drill correctly with one arm or with both hands together. The problem you are describing is more likely caused by overgripping or not taking off with proper mechanics.