vaulter can't get over the confidence "hump"

[DaveP]

Hi all.....new member here...

I have a kid who is a great athlete (HS Junior), enthusiastic, really good speed and strength......fearless over the hurdles...will do anything asked of him.

But, I can't get him to attack the pole just that one time to see what the vault is supposed to feel like and to understand that he can CONTROL the pole and not let it control him. He honestly has the strength and speed to really be a great vaulter. But his mind is ...well..you know...interfering.

I am about out of ideas. I keep telling him that if he will drive through the pole as if he is long jumping to the back of the pit (he is a 19'6" LJ'er, and power the pole with his lower arm...that he will get it. But...???

Any and all suggestions welcome. Drills? Mind tricks? This kid could be great and I don't want to fail him.

Dave

[ashcraftpv]

shorter run. lower grip. smaller pole.

short vaulting is a great tool for confidence problems....

[AVC Coach]

ashcraftpv is right on the money. Short runs will build that confidence. Something we do from time to time is have stiff pole contests. 3-4 lefts holding low. The goal is to jump your handgrip. They learn to jump off the ground and have to rely on swing speed to make the bungee. Oh yeah, our "bungee rules" don't allow for the bungee to be touched. Not even a graze or it's a miss.