Coaching Question for anyone...

A forum for coaches to discuss coaching technique and advice with each other. Only registered coaches can post in this forum.

Moderator: AVC Coach

xtremevaulter

Coaching Question for anyone...

Unread postby xtremevaulter » Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:38 am

I am coaching a high school team in washington. I am a young coach who has only been vaulting for six years....so I am not the expert. I have a jumper who is constantly 1-2 feet inside, but somehow manages to get up and over 12-6 just fine. the reason he is so far inside is because he keeps stretching out his last step. Is there any thing i can do to teach his body to shorten his last step...I am really baffeled.

My second question is does anyone have any bright Ideas on how to get a couple of girls to first get over mentle issues about bending a pole and then secondly how to teach their body to keep a straight bottom arm?

Any advice would help..

Oldcoach
PV Nerd
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:45 pm

Unread postby Oldcoach » Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:36 am

With every new set of kids I go thru the same issues. I experimented with different techniques to solve these problems with mixed results.
The "Under" issue- I put a tape box on the track and keep moving the guys run back until he can't possibly takeoff under. Keep doing it until he gets use to the visual sense. Make sure he is getting the plant up early. start moving the run in and see if the takeoff point moves in- if so go back to square one and start again.
Bending the pole/Arm collapse- I use the slide box to give them the feel of the arm pressure and body rigidity necessary. Start at 2 steps then 4. My slide box weighs about 30 lbs and when they can give it a good push- 4-6 feet from 4 steps without falling on their face or a** its time to try it on the runway. Emphasize pushing "up" with bottom arm and leading with the chest.
With some kids this seems to work with others maybe not.
Hope it helps

User avatar
Aviendha
PV Pro
Posts: 336
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2003 3:41 pm
Expertise: Current Collegiate Vaulter
Location: Missouri
Contact:

Unread postby Aviendha » Fri Apr 23, 2004 3:49 pm

i know slide boxes helped my plant tremendously :)
~Why does everyone prefer those who lie and make themselves less than they are, rather than those who embrace who they are, rejoice in it, and refuse to pretend anything less?

User avatar
achtungpv
PV Rock Star
Posts: 2359
Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:34 pm
Location: Austin, TX

Unread postby achtungpv » Fri Apr 23, 2004 6:27 pm

You shouldn't necessarily move his step back if he's under. He could be overstriding his last step, or last few (but only the last step is really noticeable) because he is out. Maybe move his step up.

You can lay down a towel on the runway at the takeoff so there's a visual of where not to step. One coach in Texas puts down a medicine ball. Teaches you not to take off under the hard way.
"You have some interesting coaching theories that seem to have little potential."

Carolina Extreme
PV Follower
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2003 10:22 pm
Favorite Vaulter: Chase Shealy
Location: 121 Crockett Road, Columbia, SC 29212
Contact:

Unread postby Carolina Extreme » Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:11 pm

achtungpv wrote:...You can lay down a towel on the runway at the takeoff so there's a visual of where not to step. One coach in Texas puts down a medicine ball. Teaches you not to take off under the hard way.

I sometimes throw my hat down on the spot where they were stepping under. This way they'll quicken up there last step or two to keep from stepping on the hat. It usually works at least a few times until they realize that it doesn't hurt them to step on my hat. It's a good way to ventilate your hat too. :D

Maybe I should try the medicine ball, and rescue my hat. LOL Nope, bad idea. :no: That has lawsuit written all over it. :eek:
“Mediocre efforts are like meaty okra. It’s hard to chew and even tougher to swallow.” Rusty Shealy

User avatar
Robert schmitt
PV Lover
Posts: 1108
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 7:41 pm
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
Contact:

Unread postby Robert schmitt » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:51 pm

For my self I lay my shoe down 6" in front of where I want to take off right on the runway. I wouldn't recommend doing this for one of your kids how ever b/c it's a good way to role an ankle. Which is why it works for me. I'm damn sure to take off in front of it. The hat sounds a lot safer.
An optimist is one who sees a light in darkness....a pessimist blows it out.

belmore
PV Pro
Posts: 314
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2002 12:34 am
Location: Austin Tx

Unread postby belmore » Fri Apr 23, 2004 10:31 pm

Ole Carl Erickson used to lay a 5 gallon water can out on the runway., that's the big water jugs you drink out of. I guess Adam Keul can describe this excercise better.
compete and jump safe, have fun

User avatar
superchau88
PV Nerd
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:54 pm
Location: Torrance, CA

Unread postby superchau88 » Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:10 pm

i am always at least a food under at take off. it is just the way i jump. if i am a foot out or i am dead on then i can't jump at all.

User avatar
das_1971
PV Whiz
Posts: 221
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2003 5:47 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, bum
Lifetime Best: smthing lo
Favorite Vaulter: Don Pablo Espanol
Location: Howard, OH

Unread postby das_1971 » Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:52 pm

superchau88 wrote:i am always at least a food under at take off. it is just the way i jump. if i am a foot out or i am dead on then i can't jump at all.


I think your the same way I am, your just used to pushing through your vault. I know quite a few people who can only jump when when the pole hits the back of the box, and then they push up through it. Its what I'm trying to fix, and spending about 2 months on just that in pratice and I'm now getting comfortable.

Not a lot of people realise that jumping under comfortably and jumping on comfortably are two different ball games, esecially if your a slow runner.
Ow

User avatar
lonestar
PV Lover
Posts: 1475
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2002 12:23 am
Location: New Braunfels, TX
Contact:

Unread postby lonestar » Mon Apr 26, 2004 12:31 am

Carolina Extreme wrote:
achtungpv wrote:...You can lay down a towel on the runway at the takeoff so there's a visual of where not to step. One coach in Texas puts down a medicine ball. Teaches you not to take off under the hard way.

I sometimes throw my hat down on the spot where they were stepping under. This way they'll quicken up there last step or two to keep from stepping on the hat. It usually works at least a few times until they realize that it doesn't hurt them to step on my hat. It's a good way to ventilate your hat too. :D

Maybe I should try the medicine ball, and rescue my hat. LOL Nope, bad idea. :no: That has lawsuit written all over it. :eek:


LOL - yeah Rusty, unfortunatley my Gill hat met with the same fate - only I was the one who stepped on it! Damn shame what my clipboard looked like from doing the same! I had a kid that would step on a 12" cone instead of shortening his last step - he shredded the thing with his spikes!
Any scientist who can't explain to an eight-year-old what he is doing is a charlatan. K Vonnegut

xtremevaulter

thanx for the...

Unread postby xtremevaulter » Wed Apr 28, 2004 11:45 am

Thanx for all the suggestions...i have a lot more respect for those who can deal with coaching high school kids at the pole vault... I look back at myself in high school...and man I was a pain in the a**. It is so much harder then I first realized. Anyway...If you have anymore Ideas i would love to hear them.

vaultchamp16
PV Beginner
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 3:34 am

Unread postby vaultchamp16 » Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:27 am

Whenever my kids stride out at the end of their run, which happens quite often, it's because the begining of their run was too quick. Those first few steps need to be long, powerful, aggresive steps. Each step needs to get progressively faster.

IF the kids cover more ground in the begining of their run, they shouldn't find the need to stride out at the end. They may run themselves a little under, but the giant steps should shorten. You may also want to have them count their steps, every left, and make sure that the count in their head speeds up.
train harder


Return to “Pole Vault - Coaches Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests