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I'm a 16 year old Junior in High school with a PR of 13 feet. My season is quickly approaching the end and I would really like to make state this year but that would most likely require a 14 foot jump. What do you guys see that I need to work on to further improve my vault? Any critique is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for the advice!

These jumps were all taken on a 14' 155 Pacer III with a flex of 20. I hold as high as I can while following the competition rules (about 13'6") I do not get depth on my vault and usually have to keep my standards in the 18-22 range. I weigh 135 lbs and am 5'7".

13 feet:
https://youtu.be/6YE8WlKxFM4

13'6" attempts:
https://youtu.be/6q_Aituwww4
https://youtu.be/QA9BvFkKK-8
https://youtu.be/CHiF45OXrK4
https://youtu.be/S7d5hhyclEk

Okay so on most of the attempts the biggest problem I saw was that you went to your back really early...which means you didn't hold that nice takeoff position that you have long enough and that's why you're not getting into the pit. Also your swing needs some work as you have a bent trail leg like many beginning vaulters, but that will come with drills and hitting a better takeoff and not going to your back soon. Let me know if this helps

You seem to have a manageable takeoff which was hard to analyze in a couple of the videos because you could not see your runway.

ainnamorati_vault wrote: Also your swing needs some work as you have a bent trail leg like many beginning vaulters, but that will come with drills and hitting a better takeoff and not going to your back soon. Let me know if this helps

This is a very good point. Keeping your trail leg long as you whip it through is very important because it allows you to put energy into the pole even after you leave the ground (Pole Vault is the only event where this is possible). This will help you get into those poles more so you aren't jumping with your standards at 18-22.

Another thing to work on is a bigger VERTICAL jump at takeoff. A bigger jump in the horizontal direction does you no good. Try to aim your jump towards the crossbar and it will help you rotate the pole better! Logically speaking, if you are trying to jump over the bar, you would not try to jump UNDERNEATH it, you would try to jump OVER it. Keep up the good work and I hope this helps!

For future reference, always practice jumping with your standards (buried) at 32. It is a dangerous habit to get into and will help you get on bigger poles as you progress. As my coach would say "Don't worship at the evil alter of 18".