Perspective - For the Love of the Pole Vault

[Bubba PV]

If not already, then shortly, high school teams will start assembling their talent to get ready for the season. For us, with a place to vault all year around, we know who we have and who we don’t. First let me say that I am not the pole vault coach at The Woodlands High School, 25 miles north of Houston, Texas. Our coach is the outstanding Robbie Dueitt, who works with kids all year until he goes off to football. At that time, our USATF club takes over the practices from mid August until early December. For my assistance in the offseason I have full access to the facilities whenever I want so it’s a great trade off. That said, Robbie is one of the best people and coaches I have ever met and I love coaching best when assisting him. I am blessed to call him my great friend.

Now that you have the background I want to say this – we have many vaulters that will not be good enough to ever represent the school in a meet this year; or maybe any year. Historically we have had very good vaulters but right now we’re in “rebuilding mode”. Yet even with a relatively weak team we have maybe 6-8 vaulters who just won’t make it. I’ve got a 8’ senior girl and a couple of 10’ boys. That said, they are just as much a part of our team as the ones who are good jumpers.

Our belief is that we are blessed with two pits, three coaches and about 80 poles. No one should be denied the experience to vault with us so anyone and everyone who is serious about getting better is welcome – all year. I get just as excited to see someone get their first 8’, 9’ or 10’ vault as I do their 13’, 14’ or 15’.

This offseason just ended for me and so did my direct responsibilities so I’m reflecting on the experience. We had 12-16 kids out every practice, twice a week for the whole time. They all improved and some will be on the team and some just won’t cut it. But their road doesn’t end here. We WANT them to stay around. They become devoted to our better jumpers and volunteer in any way they can, and in return we coach them just like they have the state meet next week. I can honestly say that for the past 3 ½ months that I looked forward to going out every day to see these kids. Every one of them in their own way is special. Someday they will look back and remember the fun they had pole vaulting. I just can’t be responsible for ever denying someone that chance. Fortunately, the other coaches feel the same.

I had a senior come up to me after the season last year and tell me how important it was that I stuck with him and his goal to get over 8’. To me that’s priceless. I had a guy (senior) a few years ago drop by and watch after school until he finally had the nerve to ask if he could join us. It took him three months to make 9’ but he ended up vaulting 14’ and making our regional meet. I had another kid drop out of cross country after his freshman year because he loved to pole vault. His best was 9’ 6”. He jumped 15’ 9” his senior year and made the Texas State meet. I had a girl who only vaulted 7’ 6” but she did the drills and bars better than anyone so she became the demonstrator. Everyone fits in who wants to.

I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences. You love the event and it’s contagious. I guess that’s the purpose of this post is to remind us all that it isn’t how good the kid becomes but how much we help them to enjoy the process. Thank you all for everything you do for the sport we love! Bubba

[Tom Wilson]

Your narrative is right on. Those that try it and stick with it are better people regardless of how high they jump. In many ways it is those that struggle to jump modest heights that get the biggest rewards as they reach higher, although modest, heights. I think I have been just as happy to see a young girl make 5' her first time when she knew she'd never clear a bar. What a thrill on her face! She came to me one day and said, "Coach, I'm thinking about quitting because I'm not very good." I told her it was her decision but that if she stayed she'd getter better and I would stick with her to support and teach. She stayed and jumped better as the year went on. She explained at the end of season dinner how she thought I was one of her best mentors and thanked me. What a wonderful inspiring feeling. Of course we all enjoy seeing some of our vaulters get through regionals and into states, but in many ways the satisfaction comes from the average vaulters with great attitudes that inspire us to stay coaching. Thanks for your nice post reminding all of this.

[Bubba PV]

Amen Brutha!! You are right and your story is exactly what I meant! Keep up the great work!! Bubba

[birdi_gurlie]

Very true! [though, on our team, those kids who "don't cut it" would make the state meet...or nearly win it ]
I was actually that kid that neither coach wanted to let vault bc I'm "a distance runner", due to my non-muscular skeletal structure. But I convinced them to let me try and eventually got 6' that year. And my coach and team captain are now betting on whether I'll make regionals this year [8'6" qualifies fro regionals, and possibly states. Sometimes it's lower. Some people qualified for regionals with 7' last year, but we had too many female vaulters get better than that for me to go...grr...]

Oh, and the main coach ate his words and the other coach only told me that I was originally his "favorite vaulter" because he "didn't think I'd ever get off the ground" after I had cleared heights and had proven otherwise. It's all good now, not that it wasn't before.

[xjoeyx]

ahh that feeling. I know bg's pain. Last year was my first year but I was dedicated to giving it my all. My PR was 9' for majority of the year and in the last wednesday meet someone broke the only pole i could vault on and 2 people cleared 9'6". One of them never showed any effort in practice, always left early for "work", and was like most in the fact they didnt really want to vault any. I, on the other hand, stayed after to where the coaches made me leave a few times. And seeing them beat me out of the county/region spots really put a fire in me to make my mind a sponge to anybody with advice (I spend so much time on here it's probably not a good thing XD) and to give everything 150% to become a better vaulter and learn more about the sport. The more I learn, the more fascinating it gets and the more I have the drive to go out and have fun and vault. I may or may not get to vault in college on a scholarship, but i would jump at the chance to improve and continue to vault until i'm too old to run down the runway and maybe help kids one day when they're in my spot with no coach or no real help/guide to vaulting

[Bubba PV]

I think you both are exactly the kind of people I look forward to working with. BTW, I'm 56 and the other guy I jumped with Saturday was 70, so you're NEVER too old! All the best to you!! Bubba

[xjoeyx]

seriously? ohh wow i would love to vault for that long

[birdi_gurlie]

So would I! That is awesome! I'd love to be vaulting then!
My coach just lost a bunch of weight so he can vault with us this spring.

[chasing6]

I agree whole heartedly Bubba. Of the 100+ vaulters that we have had the pleasure of working with over the last 15 months, we've had numerous "big time" vaulters. Of them all my favorites weren't the state champ or the NCAA national competitors.

One of my favorites is the 12 year old girl who stands no more than 4'6" tall and came to us in December asking if she could jump with her two high school aged brothers. Even though she can only swing her feet over the 7' bungee at practice she comes off the pit with the biggest smile on her face asking "can I do that again???"

The other is a 49 year old woman who started jumping last summer because she wanted to compete in the master's decathlon. Her first day she was so frighted that even tip overs in the grass were almost too much for her. Through sheer determination she is now jumping well over 8'+ bars and starting to bend the pole. My fellow coach and I often find ourselves chuckling because she does so many things right and has progressed so fast. She doesn't like it when we chuckle after a jump though, even if she knows it's only out of love.

[Bubba PV]

LOVE IT!! These are the kind of story I hoped to hear from the post. I was telling my wife yesterday that the two kids I most look forward to seeing aren't even in our top three in performance. I like them all but some of these kids are just infectious. Thanks for sharing your story and keep up the great work for the sport we love! Bubba

[cdmilton]

In my mind if the kids love it and are hard workers I am happy to work with them even if they never will jump varsity. Now if they come to practice and are a distraction and treat it like social hour they will be encouraged to try another event. I have also had kids who were talented that I wanted to "encourage to do another event" even though they scored points at the state meet.

[souleman]

Hey Chris? I'm hoping you don't mind working with that 58 year old kid that shows up from time to time. He can't even get his sorry butt over 10 feet. Later..........Mike