Net pit

[ifavault]

I'm also wondering if the sharpness of track spikes might limit the long-term wear and tear of the netting material. I'm not sure what spacing and "shape" would be used in what I anticipate is some sort of grid (square, diamond, pentagon, etc...), but what happens structurally to the net if a hole starts to develop due to wear and a torn grid wall?

Secondly, maybe this concept fits best with an elevated runway design which would allow for a little more room and reduce the risk of "bottoming out" if the net were placed at the raised runway level (proportionately higher than the ground level design).

I say we all just build swimming pools where the pit is now and and make a big splash. (Hey, they build water-jumps for the steeple chase.) Ties could be broken by whose back is the most red.

ifavault
http://www.inflightathletics.com

[Lyndell Farmer]

Thanks for all the good input. The area around the box is a tough one. All vaulters need to take care of safety first, proper size poles and technique, don’t let go of the pole if you are short or rejected and develop the skill to do a 360 and land back on the runway. There are those situations however where good experienced vaulters land in or around the box. The box by its function needs to be firm and rigid. There is a device called a Skydex box that is compliant, the only negative is the cost $2500 and I don’t know about its durability. I have an idea for a box, take the first six inches of the box (front stop side) then build a 2 or 3 inch step in all dimensions. The step would be filled with dual density foam and integrated into the box collar. The firm outer surface would allow the pole to slide normally and the front 6 inch area would retain the normal functionality. I don’t see any way to protect ankles; landing on uneven surfaces is a crapshoot at best. There are active systems that could protect the vaulter but do we really need any more clutter in the event. I thought pre fiberglass was great maybe better. A net pit would function just like a foam pit and would have a top pad that extends to the surface in the box area. I have landed on the edge of enough clould 9's to appreciate bottoming out , it's not a problem gravity is constant mass is within a range. Check out Newtons second law if you are interested.

[thecarney91]

Wouldn't spikes cut the net though?

[VaultPurple]

sounds like a tempting idea to try but too impracticle and someone is going to get hurt.

- Its going to have to be too high for beginner vaulters at the high school leve. you cant teach someone how to vault when they have to jump 8' to hit the mat.

- There is big drop off from the pit to the ground someone could fall off of.

- What happens if you land too close to the edge?... almost miss the mat? Are you going to bounce off... ive seen a lot of vaulters almost miss mat but be able to catch their but on the mat and feet on ground. What happens if you clip the corner, are you just gonna spiral to the ground.

- At the box if the net is directly over lip of box a pole can only go directly to verticle and no more in. What happens when someone lands deep? Their pole will get hung on the net.

-You want a lower net so you pull it tighter. So now it is bounceyer, and someone bounces off it.

-How do you do pop ups and practice drills?

[H.I.S.]

I have landed in nets before,(not for vaulting) and it would never work for pole vault. I know it is unsafe to land on your feet in the mats, but it's a lot worse if you do it on a net, also stalling or being rejected is a huge factor, imagine catching your swing leg on the way up? Also, how would you do training or 3 step drills like rock backs, sweep,s or jagodins? And what about beginning vaulters who would not be able to make it onto the nets which would have to be a good 6 ft plus above the ground

[powerplant42]

Yeah, most of the problems come from bailing out or beginners...

What happens if someone runs through? I think if you can solve that, you're on your way to figuring this out...