Pay with Purchase Orders Inside Pole Vaulting #2 - Think Up!
By Bill Falk
Bill.Falk@mfathletic.com
This is the second article of a new series in which I'll cover all aspects of the pole vault event. I welcome your suggestions about topics you'd like to see included. Just email your ideas to me.
After the coach tests and determines which squad members have good pole vaulting potential, it's time to teach the pole vault event.
Gripping And Carrying The Pole - Setting up the Approach Run
The top hand (right) is placed palm up between 6" and 12" from the top. The lower hand (left) is placed palm down on the pole approximately shoulder-length below the top hand. The right hand is then positioned alongside the right hip with the tip of the pole vault pole lifted to the left to allow free movement of the hips during the Approach Run. The left hand forms a right angle from the pole to the left elbow and another right angle is formed from the elbow to the left shoulder. The shoulders are squared-up to the pole vault landing pit.
The Approach Run - Here's Where the Vaulter Must Start to THINK UP
I compare the Approach Run to fuel. You can't use cheap gas to run a Mercedes - it doesn't work. Same deal with the Approach Run and pole vaulting. A poor run produces a poor vault. A good Approach Run sets up success with the rest of the pole vault.
Explain that Converting Horizontal Running Movement to Vertical Take-Off is the Greatest Problem the Pole-Vaulter Faces
Make sure the vaulter does not run straight into the pit. That is disaster. It's difficult to go up if your run is flat. Eliminate over-striding - the main cause of a flat, straight-ahead Approach Run.
It's impossible to run vertically, but a good Approach Run will set up a change from horizontal to vertical movement during the Plant and the Take-Off.
Do everything possible to prepare for vertical lift-off. Gently raise and lower both hands during the Approach Run while maintaining erect posture. Make sure the foot lands underneath the knee on each stride. That produces power and helps the vaulter run in an up and down movement instead of a flat, straight-ahead pattern. The stride pattern will be rapid but not overly long. Don't worry! You don't need a very long stride. It's much better to keep the foot landing underneath the knee to generate power.
Gradually pick up speed during the Approach Run while maintaining good erect running form. This will produce maximum controllable speed enabling you to set up for vertical movement at Take-Off.
I suggest counting every time your left foot hits the runway. Use the count to build a good rhythm. In the beginning of the Approach Run, the count is slower. As the vaulter moves towards the vault box the count becomes faster. This enables the athlete to achieve maximum controllable speed when it's needed - as he or she approaches the pole vault box.
You'll find complete coverage of all phases of the pole vault in the Pole Vault Book and the Pole Vault Video (available on DVD, VHS and interactive CD Rom) that Mark Strawderman and I have created.
