EDUCATION AND

SAFETY

Coaching education is rapidly becoming a major issue in high school and club sports. Track & field and especially vaulting are at the center of this issue. In the near future, I'm certain all prep, college, and club coaches will have to be certified or at the very least have some type of coaching education credentials. In pole vaulting we have developed an ever-growing network of camps, clinics, clubs, publications, videos and other informational tools that are doing a great job educating those who want to be educated. The focus of most of this information has changed dramatically in the past few years from "gonna teach you how to jump higher," to 'let's learn how to be safe, consistent and higher."

    Pole vaulting is perhaps the most enjoyable event to do and coach in track & field In no other event are the key lessons of life more totally encompassed. A successful pole vaulting program is a combination of work, rest, risk management, self- control, self-expression, cooperation, self-analysis and luck. The very nature of the event demands cooperation by its participants so that they may all prosper. The combined efforts of the National High School Federation, the various state committees, the USATF pole vault commit- tee, and thousands of volunteer coaches have combined to make a dramatic improvement in U.S. vaulting.

SAMPLE TRAINING SYSTEM

• Long Run Vaulting - (LRV) Vaulting with high hand hold and competition                                                  pole for height.

• Short Run Vaulting-(SRV) Vaulting with short run and low hand hold or                                                smaller poles for technique practice.                                                Remember: One (1) foot in grip equal                                                approximately 10 pounds in relative pole                                                stiffness.

• Vault Drills -              (VD) Any vault simulations-drill done with a pole

• Imitative Exercises-  (IE) Exercises with out a pole which strengthen                                               muscle groups specific to vaulting and that                                               improve skill

• Gymnastics-              (GYM) High bar, Rings, Tumbling or any other non                                                specific body control related exercises.

• Over Distance-        (OD) 3-5 mile country run or road run

• Speed Work-             (SW) 50s,100s,or 160,all with a walk-back or more                                              for a rest interval

• Weight Lifting-         (WL) Incline press, Cleans, Pullovers, Squats,                                               Step-ups, jump squats, and curls

• Running Drills-            (RD) That type of running done as part of warm up                                               each day. High Knees, Bounders, Fast Feet.

• Warm-up-                   (WU) The running, stretching and drills done prior                                                practice or competition each day.  A typical                                                warm-up routing for vaulting:                                                1. 880      2. Stretching 10-15 min                                                3. 3* each running drill                                                4. 3* 70yrd- 7/8 speed

• Warm-down-               (WD) 1/2 mile jog and light stretching brings body                                                 back to normal to prevent  stiffness.

Few event require more of an athlete than the pole vault. Ideally, a vaulter would have the upper body strength and coordination of a gymnast. the speed and spring of . long jumper, and the endurance to last six or more hours of competition. For this reason, serious vaulters put a great deal of work into  a number of different areas. At the national and international level, training is done on a year round basis. The program listed above is intended for such an athlete.

For the high school or junior high school athlete. I suggest you run cross country in the fall. It help your general condition, improves your strength for weight ratio, and will give you a good base for speed development later. All vaulter. should seek out a gymnastics class, club or coach who can help you learn the high-bar and rings stunt. I have included in the next section. do not overlook the rope drills I have include.   They are greet for developing the muscle groups and techniques specific to pole vaulting.

Without question, the three major elements in the development of pole vaulting ability ere:  runway speed, gymnastics ability, and technique :and to a certain degree, the first two result in the latter.  It is my experience that training for the vault is long, hard work.  but it is fun. and rewarding.