PoleVaultPower.com

i know im not the only one to vault good in warmup at a meet but just basically screw up when the bar goes up (that was my experience this morning) so i know i vaulted bad because of a mental block, and im ready to just conquer this problem asap. so anyone out there that has had this issue have any tips on how to overcome it?
thanks!

durring practice use a bar more....whenever a bar goes up it is a natural instict to try harder

yeah i was just thinking that, id say its about time i get a little more pumped up when the bar is up than the other way around so yeah ill be doing that at practice now
thanks!

Heres a hint (I'm working on it now):

Put a bar/bungee up. When vaulting, do not just stare at the bar. It makes it easier int he future if you don't develop bad habits...

You also may be warming up.."lazy". In other words, during warm ups, "in your minds eye" you feel like you're doing fine when in fact your warm up jump wouldn't have made a height either. Put a bar up at least once or twice during warm ups. The officials won't do it for you but you can have a teammate do it and then you do it for him. Each of you know the other's settings for the standards and when one of you come to the line the other puts up the bar. This will also give you an idea where to start for the day. If you're vaulting ugly in warm ups, you'll vault ugly during the competition. That being said, a made height is better than a NH every day of the week. Later.......Mike

I know that feeling well. you do great during practice with a bungee, clearing it just fine, no little nicks or anything. but as soon as that bar goes up, your body freezes *mainly it's all mental*. You start thinking ^okay, I can do this, just like we did in practice the other day^ but as soon as you start your run, everything just shaters. All of a sudden your marks off, your running through, your plants too low, way to early, or just plain messed up. ^What's wrong with me^ you think, and try it again. In truth, there really isn's anything wrong. It's just that mental block where you see that the Pole looks different than the Bungee. If that little bit is different, then your brain decides that it needs to do something differently so that everything stays the *cough* same.
My only advice: try practicing with the pole more. Have it at a hight that is challenging, but not super hard, but you still have to work to get over it. That way, if you do land on it a few times, You'll remember what you have to do so you can clear it the next time. Also, that way, when you land on the bar a few times, you wont be so afraid of it at your next meet.

my outdoor high school conference is today... im so nervous. i also have the same problem. during drills i do great i get my legs and my butt up but when the bar is up i concentrate on it too much. as i am going over it i look at it under me and i don't finish my vaults. what should i do?