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How do you know if or when you should move to a longer run. We are currently using a 14 step approach.

Just count every other step....so 7 lefts (or right depending on what you take off of)

If the athlete has complete control through the run, plant and take off from 14 steps, consider going to 16. While experienced athletes can switch at almost any time I recommend that you do not switch immediately from 14/16 with young athletes.. Spend a couple of weeks - or a whole winter - doing pole runs on the track so the athlete can adapt to the new rhythm of the run up and can cope with the little extra speed they should have. The faster you are moving over the last six step -the faster everything else has to be.

Generally the more amplitude of movement you can create during your drive phase, the longer your run should be. Basically if you are running "correctly" and you hit top speed after 7 lefts, then you are all set, although you may want to work on increasing your amplitude of movement so you can increase speed and THEN move to a longer run.

You also want to be techincally proficient from the run you are at before you start moving back. If you are technically good at a 4 left run and terrible at a 5 left run, moving back to a 6-left would be a bad idea regardless of how fast you are.

I don't think any high school vaulters need to be at more than 14 steps unless they are very experienced, technically proficient, and jumping well over their hand grip.

I have no idea the training age or ability of the athlete mentioned, but that is my opinion.

You need enough steps to be at full speed and in a comfortable stride by takeoff, but not so many you're tired after 3 vaults. Find your happy medium- mine's 6, but my friend does 7, the newbies on my team do 5, and I know a really good, fast guy who uses 8. whatever works for you.