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Hey, I'm a beginner vaulter and I have a problem with extending my arms. When I'm preparing to plant on my last couple lefts I feel that when I try to keep my arms extended when I plant, it feels as if I'm blocking out myself, or as if I'm running into the box, and therefore my arms collapse once I takeoff and I end up hugging the pole. Are there any tips that you would recommend to help keep my arms successfully extended while eliminating this blocking feeling?

If you are a beginning vaulter, your top arm should be extended at plant/swing and your body will swing alongside the pole with your bottom arm bending. Is this what you mean by hugging the pole?

I think so. By hugging the pole I mean that through my takeoff/swing the pole is not away from my body but kind of against my body.

While you are learning to swing, hugging the pole is natural.

Your maintaining distance from the pole during your takeoff and swing is a bit down the road for you.

Learn to swing first and add a nice pull, turn and push to your effort.

Get over a bar at your grip height or higher first.

Then, learn to bend the pole and you will already be a pro at swinging up and over your grip.

Alright, thanks! I will try to work on other aspects of my vault as well.

Another quick question: At what point down the road should I be concerned with my arms? Most of the people that watch me vault (fellow vaulters, coach, ect.) comment that my arms are somewhat lacking in my vaulting, and I feel that way too. I just can't help but feel that when if I extend my arms up before I plant I "block" myself out rather than push up to the pole, and I always hug the pole.